Look Coco 11

Another "must have" this season ... the fake fur gilet ! That's the fashion touch. Almost all kid's store and designer had its own piece: H&M with a fushia lining, DPAM with a turquoise lining, Campus Manor, Louis Louise for the best ... you name it !

BOOK Raymond rêve

Raymond the snail dreams himself in porcupine, cherry, strawberry, bubble gum or octopus! What a delightful journey to follow Raymond's reveries ! The author and illustrator, Anne Crausaz graduated in graphic design at l'ECAL (Lausanne) and she is offering us a fresh and juicy drawing. Her style is quite contemporary with a seventies flavor. Her editor, MeMo is providing children with the work of book artists from yesterday and today: "reissues to know where we come from and very contemporary books to see where we're going." Each of their project is best served by a pure color printing on thick paper: because there is no age to have in hand a beautiful object !
Also available in a memory game version, both soon available in Geneva at the bookstore Au Chien Bleu.
AU CHIEN BLEU Rue Leschot, 11 - 1205 Genève - map

Charley Harper for a new generation of fans

Ammo Books recently edited a beautiful large format title as the definitive monograph of artist Charley Harper’s six decade long career. I was thrilled to rediscover its highly stylized wildlife illustrations. But there is even a better news: you can now find a selection of board books and games for kids featuring these colorful and graphic illustrations.

The classic wooden peg puzzle and the board ABC book are available at our favorite shop: Little Home. The illustrations of animals and insects featured here are from Charley Harper’s classic 1961 book “The Golden Book of Biology”. Charley Harper is an American original who created his art from his home studio in Cincinnati, Ohio - until his death on June 10, 2007 at the age of 84. He is beloved for his delightful, graphic and often humorous illustrations of nature, animals, insects and people alike. Minimal realism, he called it.

Also available soon at Little Home, Geneva: Charley Harper memory game for all ages. This classic game features 18 pairs of images, packaged in a minimal and elegant kraft paper brown box, with side thumb cuts. A great gift for little kids and grown ups too. It looks great, so you won’t mind if it’s left out on your coffee table !

LITTLE HOME Rue du perron, 27 - 1204 genève - map

Le Tour de force, LFG and Me

Here is what you can read on Little Fashion Gallery website:

"Big bows and silver shells perched high on the head. Le Tour de Force is an English brand created by the fashion designer Camille Roman, an ex-student of St. Martin’s School in London. At the most recent London Fashion Week, she designed the headpieces for all the fashionistas, including Suzie of the now cult blog Style Bubble. Her universe is fun and offbeat, very British - kitsch, but with a kind of crazy, wacky appeal that‘s unique. So, we decided to contact Camille to ask her to design a collection for children. Take a look at the collection of stylish Le Tour de Force headpieces, created exclusively for LFG …" (link) I strongly applaud this collaboration, I think that it's the expression of kid's fashion quintessence: crazy, fun and classy accessories that make the difference.

In July 2008, my daughter was wearing a headband that I had ornemented myself for a special occasion. As you can see, it was a huge feather flower in bright fushia - originaly a pin from Mimito accessories - that I sewed on a large headband. Le Tour de Force collection for LFG was released in April 2009 so I guess the idea of oversized headpieces for kids was "in the air" ! And this is not the end because, this season, H&M is also offering large padded bows like the one in pink sequined fabrics I photographed for you. Finally, I couldn't resist mounting that padded velvet leaf on a stripe of ruban for this Xmas - definitively not as sculptural as Le Tour de Force work but it might still highlight the party, don't you think ?

SHOP La Cabane d'Anoé

La Cabane d'Anoé was the first multibrands store offering a selection of creative labels to Geneva in 2006 already. Its inner style remains unchanged because the kid's fashion brands they represent are the ultimate ones: they evolve with their own trends, creating beyond fashion ! I'm talking about the classic French bohemian look of Zef, the authenticity combined with a touch of Rock & Roll attitude of Finger in the nose, the unique Belgian sharp-styled of American Outfitters, the chicest of Parisian brand: Bonton, ... I could also name Imps & Elf, Bellerose, Isabelle Marrant for kids, Louis Louise or Veja, Tattoush and Anne-Charlotte Goutal for the shoes and accessories. You got the picture: La Cabane d'Anoé is a place for the trendiest kids in the city, no need to go to Paris anymore !

UPDATE 25 AOUT 2010 : This store now exist under the name of La cabane de Noë :

LA CABANE DE NOË Grand-Rue, 24 - 1204 Genève - map