Wednesday Woo: Back to nature for AW11 with Little Duckling

The Little Duckling collection for Autumn Winter 2011-2012 is full of beautiful, deep and  hushed tones:  blues, greys, warm browns, old rose and cream.  In some wonderful fabrics of warm jersery, babycord, cotton, poplin and denim, chosen carefully by Rosa with style, comfort and movement as well as practicality in mind.

As ever with Little Duckling there is a touch of 70's vintage, which we love.  It harks back to our childhood days where clothes were beautifully tailored but long-lasting too, made to hand down to younger siblings and beyond. Clothes made with longeivity in mind is something we are very passionate about at Sisters Guild, expecially if they are clothes that have been made with that extra thought and attention to detail - something that is so evident in Little Duckling.

The inspiration for the collection is Nature and this can be seen in the signature print for the autumn and winter season, the leaf print in blue and brown, like fallen leaves on a forest floor, along with toadstools and deer images which add a folk element to the collection.  It is true that Little Duckling blends the best from English and Scandinavian design - the designer Rosa is from Denmark and has settled with her family in the UK, so she cannot deny the 2 different influences!

The denim and cord pieces of the Little Duckling AW11 collection are some of our favourities.  Rosa has chosen a dark indigo denim for the jeans and dungarees and a dusty blue and grey soft cord for the dungarees, dresses, trousers and shirt. The Dusty Blue is a really beautiful colour for both boys and girls, with the baby dungarees being a must-have piece of the season if you have a young romper in the family!

The girls dresses have a vintage appeal and are definitely for girls who are feminine yet like to play.  The dresses have delicate detail with contrast piping, hearts and bows. Rosa really knows how to design a garment with thought and style - with delicate detail that can be appreciated by the child who wears it too, such as the pockets, the fullness of the skirt or the fine finish of the cuff.  This detail is what makes the collection stand out.

We hope you enjoy discovering the Little Duckling AW11 collection and finding pieces for your children to see them through the colder months with warmth and style!

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This is part of our Wednesday Woo blog post series where we present a selection of our favourite things from the Sisters Guild Boutique.

We also have a Monday Makery with ideas for things to make yourself.

The Art of Living posts bring you all the things we are passionate about and the things we discover in our lives as mamas.

www.sistersguild.co.uk

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The Story Behind our Collections: Fluke

Here at Sisters Guild we keep a 'wish list'; a list of designers and creators that we hope to add to our boutique. As we continue on our journey in bringing together imaginative pieces for the home and unique clothing for children, our passion for design grows as does our appreciation for the work of the designers. As mums ourselves we are drawn to childrens clothes that are made with incredible attention to detail, clothing that makes children feel comfortable and special about who they are, and above all clothes that have an ethos that reflects the innocence and freedom of childhood.  In bringing together the collections of carefully selected designers we hope to find the classics for this blossoming generation.

This is Fluke; a collection from our wish list we believe has everything covered when it comes to designing for children.

Imagine a collection of timeless British classics with a twist of colour, delicious fabrics and fun prints turning childrens clothing into a rainbow of fine design and surprising attention to detail .

The designers at Fluke have used their 20 years of experience in creating clothing for big names to design a collection of their own.

Fluke is a name we can trust to bring us clothing that not only looks great but is designed to withstand the tests little people will put them under! Being parents themselves they understand the rigours that a garment will be put through by children and the practical requirements that are essential in a collection that is built to last.

Aware of both the needs of the parents and the child the clothing carries details that look great but don't inhibit a childs play. Classic and colourful, comfortable and casual, charming and cheerful, contemporary and cute, Fluke is one cool kid conscious brand.

Spring 2011 is the 3rd collection and is full of bright colours, soft fabrics, fun prints like the raining cats and dogs and fine detail.  It is a collection that sings a song of summer holidays with dresses, bloomers and rompers named after British beaches. A Lulworth sundress, a Paignton pinny, a St Ninian romper and Shaldon bloomers the only thing missing is a bucket and spade.

Now's a great time to discover Fluke and begin a new love this summer here at Sisters Guild where we've just begun our senstaional summer sale with 40% off Fluke..........Let the summer romance begin!

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This is part of our series of blog posts about the Story Behind our Collections - why we've chosen the designers that are in the boutique and how those designers came to be.

To see a bit more of what Sisters Guild is all about take a look at the A-Z of Sisters Guild here.

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Wednesday Woo: Boys are tops

With boys clothing you don't always get such a wide range of pieces, but we reckon we've found some of the best boys designs with Dandy Star, Fluke and Little Duckling -   T-shirts, sweatshirts, cardis and shirts for handsome boys...

LUCKY sweatshirt by Dandy Star, £35
Boys Knitted Cardigan - Morecambe - by FLUKE, £55
Cream Poplin Shirt by Little Duckling, £34.50
MAGIC T-shirt by Dandy Star, £22
SAVE THE WHALE T-Shirt by Dandy Star, £22
Vintage Guitar Print T-Shirt - Filey - by FLUKE, £24

View the boys clothing collection here

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This is part of our Wednesday Woo blog post series where we present a selection of our favourite things from the Sisters Guild Boutique.

We also have a Monday Makery with ideas for things to make yourself.

The Art of Living posts bring you all the things we are passionate about and the things we discover in our lives as mamas.

And for a glimpse behind the scenes of Sisters Guild we have the A-Z of Sisters Guild here

The Story Behind our Collections: Little Duckling

When we were planning the Sisters Guild Boutique the girls clothing collections were very easy to choose but boys clothing was an area we weren't quite so sure about.  Even though I have a boy myself I was yet to find a collection that had boys clothing to get excited about.  That was until we arrived at Bubble London in January 2010.  We saw Rosa Wiland's fantastic stand with 70's wallpaper and vintage toys, with a wonderfully tailored and nostalgic collection of clothes in denim, blues, browns and dusty orange.  There it was - Little Duckling - a joyful discovery.

 

We were so enchanted by Rosa and her designs and we knew we had found a perfect collection for the Sisters Guild boutique - handsome and wholesome clothes for boys and feminine and innocent pieces for girls too.  I have a passion for print and pattern and know how hard it is to find gentle and subtle patterns for boys.  Rosa fulfils that need for prints for boys that are not so stereotypical by creating patterns that are unisex.  Each season Rosa designs new prints for the collection and previous seasons have included the heart-warming field and farm print and the delightful kite print:

It is clear that Rosa is in touch with the innocent and free-spirited side of childhood and that is always reflected in her designs.  The Little Duckling pieces are honest and playful, with detail such as oversized buttons, stripey retro elastic straps for dungarees, heart shaped cuts on the dresses, pinafores, pleats and gathered skirts. 
I think the key to her design is the balance of style and practicality. With each piece there is no fuss, just subtle detailing that adds style and individuality without taking away the comfort of the garment.

There is an English rural charm to the Little Duckling designs, with a clear folk influence that comes from Rosa's Scandinavian roots.  Rosa is from Denmark and is now living in London.  Having studied fashion in Denmark and achieved an MA along with a prestigious award she then spent years in the fashion industry in London. Rosa took the leap to create her own design label after she had her daughter Frida. The inspiration a child can give is a powerful thing and for Rosa it was teamed with a feeling that the market needed something new and unique and playful.  Rosa is so clearly passionate about what she does and each season she achieves a collection that is so charming and thoughtful and full of the wonder that childhood is all about.

With Rosa's collection you always know you are going to get the perfect mix of tailoring, fabrics and detail; pieces that are created with thought and imagination, with style and comfort too.  They are unique additions to your childs' wardrobe that will be the favourites to be worn time and time again.
For spring summer 2011 the Little Duckling collection has a fun 'Festival of Britain' summer vibe with reds, blues, greys, creams and checks in fine cotton and linen.

I'm sure others share my excitement to see what new designs she will create next. We are heading over to Bubble London this weekend and it is Rosa's collection that we look forward to with wide-eyed wonder!

View the current Little Duckling collection here

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This is part of our series of blog posts about the Story Behind our Collections - why we've chosen the designers that are in the boutique and how those designers came to be.

To see a bit more of what Sisters Guild is all about take a look at the A-Z of Sisters Guild here.

Sign up to find out more about future collections, news and offers:

The Story Behind our Collections: Dandy Star

Behind Dandy Star is the laidback Cornish duo Charlotte Day and Rose Bamford who met while doing their MA's at the Royal College and Chelsea School of Art respectively.  They produced their first collection of LOVE t-shirts for kids in the summer of 2004.

I remember seeing kids wearing these LOVE T-shirts at the Big Chill Festival and thinking 'Ah, when I have kids how lovely those T-shirts would be.' Fast-forward to 2008 after my son was born and I was full of glee to find a few Dandy Star T's for my gorgeous boy.  And then 2 years later when my sister and I were planning our online boutique of course Dandy Star was top of the list.

Dandy Star first appeared at the Cross in Holland Park, London - one of the first London lifestyle boutiques. The Cross was a boutique I remember discovering with lots of 'Ooohs and Ahhs' at the inspiring designs.

Dandy Star is a British label we have always admired.  The designs mix typography with handprinted illustrations.  They have a 60's and 70's retro charm along with what they call 'dandification.'  These are T-shirts that are less about fashion and more about fun, wearable works of art.

Dandy Star say that their mission is  'To bring more optimism, sparkle and glam rock into you and your children's homes.'  Their motto is: 'Life is way more FUN if your clothes are Dandy.'


Carla & I are passionate about children's clothing being imaginative and individual; clothes that allow a child to express him/herself.  Dandy Star's colours, images and words are a celebration of the joy of being a child. There's greens, pinks, blues and yellows.  With words LOVE, MAGIC, DAZZLE, LUCKY, BEST and one of our recent favorites SAVE THE WHALE.

I love the Dandy Star pieces in my boys wardrobe and they mix well with denim jeans and shirts (Little Duckling being another one of my favourite designers for boys). His favourite has become the long-sleeved dark pink T with the fantastic elephant design. It is one of those T-shirts that will be around for a long time and is a 'saver.'  I think what makes my son pick out the Dandy T's from his drawer is that they are made of such soft cotton. They feel so good on the skin - you can't beat that feeling of putting on a T-shirt after a bath, a shower or a swim on the beach, and how the soft warm cotton caresses the skin. That's what gives them 'favourite T-shirt' status.

The Dandy Star duo say:  Our design aesthetic goes back to a time of sandy shoes on the backstep, Portobello junk in the living room, Marc Bolan in the bedroom and definitely too much blue eyeliner in the bathroom. Vibrant yet muted our shades contrast with bold typography and line. The natural fading achieved through our production process, with some added sparkle and dandification. All that works with the way you like to live and your kids like to play.

We certainly get that vibe - Dandy Star clothing is like a warm, familiar smile with a bit of a nod and a whoop for days of fun, freedom and innocence.

Dandy Star has collaborated with style icons such as Marc Jacobs and Luella, with bespoke collections for Tate Modern, Maggie’s and more recently Cath Kidston. We get excited each season to see what new designs they will bring.

Charlotte and Rose have a magic mix of elements in their Dandy Star designs that make them wearable and timeless with a 'keep them forever' feel. They add some fun and charm to the Sisters Guild Boutique and we are happy knowing we can add a bit of Dandy to people's lives!

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This is part of our series of blog posts about the Story Behind our Collections - why we've chosen the designers that are in the boutique.

To see what Sisters Guild is all about take a look at the A-Z of Sisters Guild here.