WHAT’S HOT FOR TOTS: SUMMER 2006

What's Hot for Tots Children's Fashion Trends Column by Tina Barry

Join us every season as we explore the world of hot products, fashions, and trends for tots. Previous articles are archived and may be viewed by clicking on the links at the bottom of this page.

WHAT’S HOT FOR TOTS: SUMMER 2006 TEES FOR TWO OR TWENTY
Coffee and tee, please. Yes, that’s tee as in T-shirt, the season’s “must have” item for both sexes.You go girl-Girls’ tees are lacy and sweet, adorned with 60’s peace symbols, or rock out with musical motifs.-With tees, girls will don tiered skirts, denim minis or embroidered jeans, and light-weight capris.-If you can get a girl to swap her favorite tee for a dress, it’ll be an A-line design in a happy floral print.Oh, boy-Boys’ tees are rock ‘n roll friendly, covered in peace symbols or alive with friendly animal motifs.-Consider a striped or retro printed short-sleeved shirt and cargo shorts as summer formal wear.

IN THE SWIM-Girls go for glamour in string bikinis, luscious floral maillots and playful stripes.-Designers offer hoodies, wrap skirts and A-line dresses to coordinate with swimsuits.-Boys wear board shorts printed with splashy Hawaiian florals.

FRUIT SMOOTHIES-Soft pinks and melon tones look fresh on sportswear and swimwear. Pair the popular tones with black or cocoa, or mix the rosy colors for a fresh bouquet.-Pair sky with deeper blue tones for a refreshing dip in the drink.-Designers swapped last year’s olive for celery for a crisp new look.-Navy and white always looks classically elegant. For a new take on nautical, switch navy for red.-Dress boys in orange mixed with white and charcoal for a sophisticated, European feeling.

PRINTS CHARMING-60’s: The Sequel. Tie-dyed looks, peace symbols and doves, batik designs, rock ‘n roll looks, rock stars: If it reminds you of Woodstock, it’s hip right now.-Florals never lose their appeal. For spring and summer feminine florals bloom on sportswear; brighter graphic flowered motifs enliven swimsuits.-If you’ve got something to say, wear it! T-shirts with slogans are popular for girls and boys.-T-shirts layered with tie-dye, printed with symbols and appliquéd look chic paired with jeans, skirts or beneath a jacket.-It’s a zoo out there with photographic animals and simple beast motifs printed on everything from tees to sundresses.-Boys get decked out in retro inspired prints and surfer designs.

DETAILS, DETAILS, DETAILS-Lace transforms the simplest top into a vintage charmer.-Embroidered flowers bloom atop tees, dresswear, denim and jackets-Tulle peeks from beneath skirts and dresses.

Tina Barry contributes weekly style and food stories to The Brooklyn Papers, and is a contributing editor for The Online Guide to Kids’ Fashions, www.jamesgirone.com. Barry spent 10 years as a textile designer then manufactured a line of better children’s wear. She teaches at The Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City.