FASHION STATEMENTS

THE BIGGEST trends in
fashion are going to be a lot
smaller this season.

Though the poor economy may
be affecting women’s wear, the
children’s wear business is having
a growth spurt.

Grown-ups who have tighter
budgets for their own wardrobes
are spending more on their kids’
clothing, giving children’s wear a
successful market in Vancouver.
High quality fabrics and construc-
tion’ go into these tiny designer
labels which are becoming just as
specialized as ladies’ wear.

-Not only has the baby-wear
boom instigated a new crop of
children's wear designers, it has
inspired several women’s wear
manufacturers to begin smalier
children’s wear lines.

- Vancouver ‘designers such as
Bravo! For Kids, Flying Colours

and Tracs- have been joined by

new labels such as Bright Sparks
by :Moratti, Monkey Bars, Please
Mam, Duck Feet For Kids, Baby
Sport, Chic Kids, Basic Elements,
Uh! . Oh}, Brooz Zoo and Baby
Wraps.

* -, And many of these lines are be-
ing. sold throughout Canada and
the U.S.

Well-known women’s wear
manufacturers such as Guess,
Mexx and NafNaf have all in-
troduced kids’ wear, as well as in-
troducing swimsuit labels such as
Gottex, LaBlanca and Cole of
California. -

Parents know that shopping for
kids’ clothes is usually much more
difficult than shopping for
themselves. The merchandise must
be durable, easy care and still win
a child’s approval. (Peer pressure
seems to be starting younger.)

Stores now make it easier to
shop for children’s wear. They sell
clothes that can be quickly chosen
€when a young child is under
foot), are versatile (seasonless
pieces that can be dressed up or
down), and high quality (well
constructed fine fabrics which are
preshrunk and made from natural
fibres).

‘Shops choose designs for quick
coordinating in uncomplicated
styles. ._They understand that
priorities are different when you
are shopping for children’s
clothing, and that comfort is the
key.

Generous proportions for a
roomy fit, no binding cuffs or
tight elastic trim, and practicality
with not too many added details
that may hinder play are essentials
in children's wear.

Play is the word in chiidren’s
wear this spring. Designers and
manufacturers have decided that
the best looks are fun and sporty,
showing few styles which could
not be worn outside on the
playground.

The irends in kids’ clothing for

FASHION

@ children’s wear

SPRING KIDS’ wear spells fun in fashionable printed cottons.

this season range from traditional
floral Easter dresses to weensy
denims and small-fry sailor looks.
The top trends for pre-teens are
as follows.
FABRICS:

Spring flowers are flourishing in ~

children’s casuals and swimwear
this spring. The largest bouquets
are filled with daisies, which are
shown as big as sunflowers or as
miniatures in all-over patterns.

They are sprinkled on oversized
sweaters and T-shirts, knitted leg-
gings and bike shorts, flared
dresses and smock dresses, some-
times worn in mix and match
combinations.

Also look for roses,
florals and pansies.

Gingham has been introduced
as a favored fabric for kids. Tiny
red and white checks or blue and
white checks of gingham are
shown in patches cr trims if they
do not cover an entire garment.

Bew puckered gingham, or seer-
sucker gingham, is also popular.
It is often paired with crisp white
cotton and denim in a casual,
farmer theme, cut into blazers,
pants, jackets and skirts.

Sheerness shows up in children’s
wear. This fashion feature spread

country

from the revealing trend in ladies’
clothing. Chiffon blouses, tied
front shirts and dresses are printed
with flowers, polka .dots and
plaids.

Chiffon is also mixed with other
fabrics which vary in texture such
as heavy denim, heavy-weight
cotton, or a blend of chiffon,
rayon and thick brocade fabric.

Bold, bright prints are stand-
outs this season, giving new depth
to children’s wardrobes. The
prints include great ethnic
geometrics, south sea fish, African
primitive forms, big checks and
polka dots, which are sometimes
mixed together with stripes, plaids
and stars. imaginative prints such
as tea party themes, fruit and
vegetables, heart motifs, letters,
domestic and wild animai shapes
and fantasy looks are also shown.

Denim makes a strong state-
ment in children’s wear, influ-
enced by ladies’ styles. It goes
country with frills and eyelet on
faded denim, now called
laundered denim.

Denim is cut into jean jackets,
shirts, jeans, overalls, ‘shortalls
and minis.

Washed denim is also shown in
natural colors combined with pale

’ almond green, corn yellow and

lavender.

Stretch is given to many fabrics
with spandex. It provides more
comfort for bending and stret-
ching and gives a little room for
growth. -

Spandex is added to cotton
knits for mini skirts, dresses, bike
shorts and leggings, but the syn-
thetic also is used in weaves such
as denim and chambray.

STYLES:

Little sailors have landed once
again. There is every type of
seagoer in children’s wear collec-
tions, but the classics are still the
favorites.

Naval regalia, big sailor collars,
Stripes, grosgrain trim, along with
red, white and blue combinations
are shown on suits, jackets, skirts,
jumpsuits and pants.

Easter dresses and special sepa-
fates are traditional favorites, and
this spring is no different. Since
Easter is not until mid-April this
year, there is more time for
children’s wear shopping, and
therefore stores are offering a
wider range of choices.

Romantic dresses, sun dresses,
jong dresses with matching legg-
ings, long baggy walking shorts,

. chintz dresses,

baggy and balloon pants, hooded
jackets, stirrup _pants with big
flowing tops, colorfully lined
anoraks and blazers are all good
choices.

The North Shore boasts some
of the best stores and a wide
variety of: stores for children’s
wear in the Lower Mainland.
There is a store to fit your budget,
your child’s size and your time
schedule right here on the North
Shore.

The Kids Quay Fashions, in The
Lonsdale Quay Market, carries
sizes newborn.to 12, in Canadian
and American B Sesitner labels
which are high quali

Bravo! eparates: "and Easter
dresses, denims by Jean Kingdom
and baby wear by Little Me and
Cache Cache are for sale.

A good selection of shoes is
soon arriving: from baby sizes to
size 4 which include leather shoes
from Portugal and velcro runners.

Also check the novelty raincoats °
by Puddle Duds depicting Kermit
the frog, Miss Piggy, a dragon, .a
duck, and a rabbit which have.
hoods shaped like the head of the

Please Mum, in The "Lonsdale :
Quay Market, carries its own fine:

quality designer label which: - :
features bright coiors, easy:care:. |

cottons, generous ‘sizes, and af-—
fordable prices. Blas
The Please Mum label. is ‘only
available at the Vancouver-based
firm’s 16 stores across Canada..
Please Mum sizes include newborn
to 12. .
Evolution Children’s Wear in
Park Royal Shopping Centre,
south mall, carries sizes newborns
to 14, and i in -unique..
fashions. made by local designers
as well as carrying labels from the:
U.S. and Eastern Canada. .... -
Fleece separates by Vancouver’
Bright Sparks for Moratti, padded.”
double-kneed pants by. Van--
couver’s: Monkey” Bars, . quality

fleece casuals by Rustle ‘Athletics,” _

Rag-A-Muffins award-winning.
Vancouver’s
DuckFeet leggings, separates by a
popular new Toronto; label
1.Y.A., (International Youth, Ap-~:
parel) ‘and the U.S.’s Heart‘ Str-

ings for girls: and Kite: ‘Strings: for: :

_ boys.
The store also features” “Baby - :

Wraps, a local label which makes:
plastic lined diaper pants in bright
wild prints, and baby-beach looks
with matching T-shirts. |“: vat

Welcome To The World, in.
Park Royal Shopping Centre,’
south -mall, carries. very fashion-:.
able clothes for boys: and - girls
with sizes for extra small infants
to size 8. It sells European. ‘and.
Canadian designer labels. ©: .

Kidz Biz, in Lynn Valley Cen-
tre, has a very good selection. of
top manufacturers’ brands | _ for
girls and boys. - a

Little Lords “And Ladies; 106-
1861 Welch Avenue in ‘North
Vancouver, manufactuses its, own
line from this location and has a
showroom which is open to the
public.

It features quality cotton sepa-
rates for little girls and boys in
prints and solids at very reason-
able prices.

Boomers Aad Echoes, 108 West.
17th St. in North Vanccuver, sells
secondhand clothing on consign-
ment and samples.

Chrissy’s Children’s Fashions, -
1463 Bellevue Ave. in West Van--
couver, carries designer labels
which are made in Vancouver and.
a Canada, as well as im-

Ponta Aud Kaboodle Chihiren’s
Apparel, 1850 Marine Dr. in West

See Quality page 20