Spring is in the air. Only last week Hector and I ventured out without our coats…I know, I know, we like to live life on the edge.
All of a sudden it feels so warm, the hellebores and snowdrops are out, we’ve even spotted some grape hyacinths and primroses too and my thoughts have turned to brighter days ahead, shorts and t-shirts and fun in the garden. I’m so excited.
So to celebrate what better then, than to start prepping and planning Hector’s Spring wardrobe. He’s also had a bit of a growth spurt of late and so many of his clothes just don’t fit him any more which gives me another reason to legitimately bash the plastic. The curated collection below includes both those items I’ve been purchasing and those that are on my wishlist if money was no object.
Let’s get started…
Zara
Zara isn’t killing it like it used to. That said Hector lives in their slim fit jeans day in day out. They’re pretty much the only trousers that fit his skinny pins and I love the fact there’s no zip or button and just a popper instead which means it’s that much easier to change him at nursery and at home.
On a recent Spring spree I bought Hector this lightweight “Bonjour” sweatshirt because stripes and French words is a no-brainer especially given our French heritage. Honestly who am I trying to kid? I just liked it and I’ve since found out that Miss Mabel has it too. At £6.99 this C’est Tres Bien long sleeved tee is cheap enough to not worry when it inevitably gets covered in mud from Hector’s latest round of puddle jumping.
One thing I am head over heels for is this pair of charcoal grey dungarees available in sizes up to four years which would look awesome with this Cactus t-shirt for the tropical vibe.
We don’t have a Summer wedding to attend this year but if we did then I’d definitely be popping Hector in one of these basic button t-shirts which are smart enough for a more formal occasion but comfortable enough for him to run (within reason!) around in. Available in four colours for a bargain £3.99!
John Lewis
I only discovered John Lewis’ heirloom collection last week; has it been around for a while? Suffice to say most of the designs in the range are for more ‘event’ orientated occasions but I do rather like this blue and white linen shirt complete with Granddad collar. I’m not sure if it’s intentional but the slightly cropped sleeves with buttoned cuffs are also a winner in my book!
Boden
I love Boden although I think their girls’ collection is much much stronger than the boys most seasons and especially for Spring/Summer 2017. Hector lived in their shorts last year getting tonnes of wear out of his rolled up blue and red cotton versions so I’m especially pleased to see that they’ve released the range in more colour ways for this year. I’ll definitely be purchasing some more for this year especially since they’re so easy to wash and dry super quickly after dips in the sea and running through the sprinkler in the garden.
I’m a big fan of knitted cotton jumpers for those between-season days. Cosy enough to keep the chill off but not so warm as woollen knits, they are the perfect compromise for sunny but windy days. This contrasting stripe design with its bright colour combinations is a winner in my book.
MamaOwl
Mamaowl is my go to if I want something for a special occasion or a knit to invest in that will see him through a couple of seasons. I love their range and I was very pleased to see that they recently starting stocking Rylee & Cru which is the brand who have designed this ‘Magic’ t-shirt which is pricey but I love it nonetheless.
The tee would look super cute paired with this pair of stripy shorts from Serendipity Organics which I’m pretty sure I’m going to end up buying for Hector. Alternatively these Gray Label shorts made from organic cotton jersey with elasticated waist are suitable for littles from 1 year and look super comfy to boot.
Mamaowl are also members of our The Littles List directory so it’s worth heading over to their profile in the directory to find out what else they have on offer.
Mango
A fairly new addition to my ‘shops for Hector’ list, Mango has surprised me with the quality of their products and the fairly inexpensive price tags. There isn’t a huge amount at the moment in their toddler boys range that I’m in love with but I do really like this striped shirt which has got ‘SUMMER’ written all over it complete with shorts and sandals. I don’t think it’s too bad for a tenner and the brand are also affiliated with Kidstart which means you get 4% cash back if you’re signed up to the scheme too.
H&M
I don’t often purchase many things from this brand, not because I don’t like it, but really due to the fact that the clothes don’t really seem to fit Hector all that well despite going up or down the sizing. That said I don’t think you can really go wrong with a pair of dungarees like this set. I like the dark denim and the slim fit. Available in sizes up to ten years too!
COS
I know COS is on the pricier side of the spectrum but when you apply a cost per wear perspective I think the brand is incredibly good value for money. Hector is still wearing a shirt that he first wore to my sister’s wedding a year ago and it looks brand new despite the amount of times it’s been worn. I particularly like this monkey print sweatshirt and I know Hector will too so I’m tempted to buy for those chillier Spring days….I might just wait though to see if it goes into the sale.
M&S
Ok ok so technically this two piece romper set is far too small for Hector to wear but I couldn’t not include it because it’s so sweet. Perfect for keeping littles cool on warmer days…it’s making me ever so slightly broody…
Have you started your Spring purchasing yet? Anything you simply must share with us? We’d love for you to tell us in the comments below…
Totally random thought but on dungarees – my little boy is now potty trained but can’t work the clasps on dungarees so they’ve become a no no for now. So disappointing as they’re so cute!
I’ve never looked at Cos kids clothes before so thanks for the tip! xxx
Do you know I hadn’t even considered this Fionnula as we are not on the potty training route just yet but definitely something to bear in mind for the future. I highly recommend looking at COS for kids clothes; they have fab sales too!
I think I’ve almost finished stocking up for Spring/Summer (well, I don’t think, my wife has told me lol) and my little monster is pretty much exclusively in H&M, M&S and Matalan. I’m all about the jeans and trousers with braces and little shirts. Think I might well order that bonjour jumper on the sly tho… Damn you maternity pay…
Haha! We love a bit of enabling Gracie. I actually bought some braces for Hector for Christmas and he kept taking them off so I’m envious that you’ve managed to keep your little one in them!
Boys offering are so much more limited than girls aren’t they? This is a lovely collection. We also have the bonjour jumper. I’ve also just got some Sophie & Co trousers (found through Instagram). Her range is all Unisex but much more suited to girls but her new wide fit hareems are so cute and so easy for Noah to run around in. Hes becoming a big brother his summer and I’m hankering after a Brother sweatshirt from Bob & Blossom, they have the most gorgeous colours!
SO much more limited Anna! I actually get quite frustrated when I see all the beautiful clothes for girls and then it’s as if the designers can’t quite be bothered or have lost their mojo when it comes to the boys. I’m off to check out Sophie & Co and I think you should most definitely get a Brother sweatshirt for Noah! Congratulations on number two xx
Lolly!! This has totally inspired me to get cracking on the boys spring/summer clothes. Tayo has, well none! And Leo will have our grown last years. I so wish those grey dungarees cane in Tayos size… we go away in 5 weeks and I reckon he could live for a week in something like that as it’s not going to be too hot. Loving all the tees. Off I pop to the virtual shops xxx
You are most welcome doll! Probably not the best material for a summer holiday but I love these cashmere dungarees in Zara’s mini section – http://www.zara.com/uk/en/-c806507p4163053.html…have fun shopping anyway xxx
So glad it’s not just me that’s noticed Zara is a bit off the boil at the moment!
Also find boys clothes a bit more tricky. There’s just so much corduroy and brown tones still- it’s spring, I want something fun and not muddy coloured!! Love the greener shades here especially that gorilla sweatshirt!!!
I know exactly what you mean Lucy. Weirdly I’m always instinctively drawn to blue and greys for Hector but he looks awesome in neon coral which I found out on holiday last year when he sported a pair of short dungarees in the hue. I wish they produced way more colourful clothes for boys.
Thanks for the inspiration Lolly, I haven’t bought anything for Spring/Summer so really pleased to get some ideas! My little boy is a similar age to Hector so I always really enjoy your clothes posts. X
Ahhh Nicola that’s so lovely of you to say. Well I like creating them so if the demand is there I’m happy to keep writing this type of content for you all xxx
Hi Lolly. I also really enjoy your clothes posts as my son is 2.5 years old.
You know, I never would have considered Zara before due to the price tag but actually, the bits you have featured are a really good price! I particularly love those slim fit jeans, may have to invest in those. I am SO going through Noah’s clothes tonight to pack away the chunky knit jumpers in preparation for Spring and then go clothes shopping! X
You are absolutely most welcome Katie! The slim fit jeans have been a godsend for us and I can see them lasting for a few seasons yet even if I have to purchase the next size up. Definitely worth it for the price. I went through all his clothes at the weekend and packed a huge box full away. They grow so quickly!
Lovely selection Lolly! I agree that choices for boys are so limited. The only exception I’ve found is Next. I’ve not checked out what they’ve got in for spring yet though but they always seem to have equally good selection for boys and girls. I also wish there was somewhere to buy good quality good value unisex basics, just plain t-shirts, leggings, joggers, sweat tops/hoodies in a range of colours. So if anyone knows of somewhere, let me know!
It’s such a pain isn’t it Sophie. Unfortunately Next is another brand that just doesn’t seem to fit Hector properly – too short on the arms and too wide in the body and it’s a shame as we’ve had lots of clothes bought for him from the store which I’ve ended up taking back. But I agree somewhere which sells lots of plain basics would be fantastic!
We get our basics from http://www.minibasic.co.uk/ – a little more than my husband likes but the tshirts and sweatshirts are gorgeous!
Mabel has the “Bonjour” jumper 🙂
It’s her favourite x
And she looks very sweet in it too!
How did I not know that Cos do children’s clothes?! I usually spend more on Oscar’s wardrobe than I do on my own, so this post could mean trouble for my bank balance – all such gorgeous picks Lauren!
Honestly Hannah it’s all my mum’s fault really. She was the one who first bought something for Hector from the brand and I’ve loved it ever since…
I love ALL of this! Especially the Mango shirt, what a find. Definitely adding that to my shopping lists! Love these fashion posts, Lolly! Hector is a total style icon in our house so always look forward to hearing about your finds! X
Bless you Sian! He’s certainly better dressed than anyone else in our house! I wonder if he’ll inherit the sartorial love or whether he’ll be completely indifferent when he gets older…
I’m hoping that I never get to the ‘I want to dress myself’ phase… Wishful thinking?!
Totally! One day it will come….
I should probably mention that another of our #littleslist members – Tea & Kate has a final sale promotion running on Soor Ploom which caters for girls. Honestly if I had a girl then this is what I’d dress her like…
https://teaandkate.co.uk/collections/vendors?q=soor%20ploom&utm_source=tea+and+kate+newsletter&utm_campaign=0d52f04445-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_03_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f988de6389-0d52f04445-156322037&mc_cid=0d52f04445&mc_eid=70ecadd9c9
Missed this yesterday but hope someone still sees it. Firstly, having one of each I can confirm boys clothes are better than shopping for girls clothes. Girls clothes are just plain HOOCHY. Crop tops? Inappropriately short shorts? SERIOUSLY?! And now rompers are out for same aforementioned potty training I’m concentrating all my efforts on making my son look like a mix of the sailor from the Village People and a Victorian.
Anyway, I’m pretty much THERE on our spring/summer wardrobe. I just need the following if anyone has seen anything:
1. Plain t-shirts short sleeve in red and navy and white. Maybe a sky blue. No appliqué. No dinosuars. No slogans saying ‘M is for Milk’ (voms at idea). I can manage a small boat MAYBE but ideally plain.
2. Short navy twill shorts. Like the Boden ones but maybe with a roll up. In my head the roll up is maybe a Navy stripe. In 6-9 months. Again, anyone? Lolly’s Boden ones start at age 3.
3. Swimwear but the rash vest version. No dinosuars. No tractors. No BLOODY crocodiles and slogans saying ‘snap snap’.
For her:
4. A pale blue and white striped jersey tunic. Like the next £6 ones but in a pale blue. We have the Next £6 dark navy in our capsule collection.
5. White sandals.
GO PEOPLE. GO FORTH.
So far have checked Next, John Lewis, M & S (so poor this season AGAIN), Verdbuet, Sainsbos, Zara and Jojomamanbebe.