Maybe we’re just getting old, but it seems like everywhere we look, we’re seeing pictures of our friends’ kids. Facebook newsfeeds, once populated with images of house parties and road trips, are being infiltrated by photos of children. The way we see it, if you’re going to have to see these rugrats popping up everywhere, they might as well be dressed to kill. Surely there are some decent crafters in our area making pint-sized outfits, right?
The answer is a resounding yes. One of our faves is Girl and a Mouse, a husband-and-wife team from Haddon Heights, N.J. Chris and Nicola O’Connell may live over the bridge, but they’re hustling their wares in Philadelphia, too — you can find their creations at Adorn Boutique (1314 Frankford Ave.).
If you’re looking to be the next cool auntie or uncle to your friends’ and siblings’ youngsters, bring them clothes that inspire playtime. No one’s buying fussy grown-up-person clothes for their kids anymore — it’s all about comfort and whimsy. Girl and a Mouse has that down: Everything they make looks like it’s just begging to be layered up with accessories. (Think lots of flowy shapes and unexpected details, be they embroidery, ribbon or buttons, with woodsy, bohemian accents.)
“The clothing collection was inspired by fond childhood memories spent in the U.K., especially with my grandfather who lived in a remote part of Wales,” explains Nicola, who does the designing. “I spent many hours studying the local wildlife — hedgehogs, foxes, badgers and mice — with him. He wrote several children’s stories, so we gained much inspiration from him,” she adds. Naturally, we’re excited to see their upcoming fall/holiday collection.
