For some reason, you people love red, white and blue clothes for your kids. Sassy and George gets SO much search engine traffic from people looking for patriotic children’s clothing!

Here are my Etsy picks for Fourth of July 2011:

MrsLaura30 on etsy.com, $29.99

WeChooseJoy on etsy.com, $16.95

Three Lulus on etsy.com, $18.00

The Trendy Tot on etsy.com, $36.00

Do you know about Zulily? It’s a daily deal site much like Gilt Groupe and others. But it’s all kids toys and fashion and some mom fashion thrown in to make things extra fun!

If you don’t already Zulily, here’s an invitation to join from me!

Typical “me” – here’s what caught my eye on Zulily today – smocked dresses, traditional gingham jumpers and funky kid art!

Rosalina smocked sundress, $29.99 (regularly $59.00)

Rosalina seersucker wrap dress, $27.99 (regularly $54.00)

Orange gingham jumper by Mondays Child, $22.99 (regularly $42.00)

Red gingham shortalls by Mondays Child, $24.99 (regularly $48.00)

Dimdat Loves Ice Cream robot print from Cici Art Factory, $16.99-$29.99 (regularly $30-$60) – available on canvas or paper

Bom Loves Hockey robot print from Cici Art Factory, $16.99-$29.99 (regularly $30-$60) – available on canvas or paper

Join Zulily’s mailing list today for daily offers like these!

If you’ve poked around this site a bit, it should come as no surprise to you that I love very classic children’s clothing. That’s not to say that I always get away with making my kids wear it (It is sometimes expensive and my daughter has entered the age of Bieber and Justice. Sigh.) but I love it nonetheless.

First Communion and baptism attire are non-negotiables for me. No spaghetti-strapped, mini-bridal gowns. No pageant-looking party dresses. My son wore khaki linen trousers, navy jacket, blue dress shirt, bowtie and loafers – and looked darling. My daughter will look equally classic.

I stumbled across the Etsy shop of Embroidered Heirlooms today and it took my breath away. Let’s just say the word “heirlooms” in the shop name is not an exaggeration. Stunning.

The “Elizabeth” is made of 100% Handkerchief Linen. The bodice features handmade lace insertions with silk ribbon accents, and rows of meticulous pintucks. The silk ribbon at the waistline ties to a beautiful bow in the back. This dress is fully lined with 100% Cotton Batiste. The back closes with five mother-of-pearl buttons. If desired, Janet will embroider the name and Communion date in white on the front bottom edge of the slip for no additional charge. Seams are professionally finished – French seams available for an additional $30.00.

The “Grace” is a 100% Silk Dupioni First Communion Dress featuring an overskirt of silk organza trimmed at the hemline with a 2″ silk satin ribbon. Bodice is made of silk dupioni, and a centered French lace block of lace insertion with silk ribbon, entredeaux, and lace with a peter pan collar trimmed in French lace. Puffed sleeves are made of silk organza trimmed with French lace insertion and silk ribbon ties. The underskirt is also made of silk dupioni. The dress is completely lined in 100% Cotton Batiste, with an attached slip. The back closes with five mother-of-pearl buttons.

The “Ava” has a Silk Dupioni underdress with 100% Silk Organza overskirt and sleeves. Bodice is hand-embroidered with silk ribbon rosettes, white silk floss stems, pale green leaves, and seed pearls. Embroidery is framed with five rows of pintucks on either side. Collar is embroidered with silk ribbon rosette and trimmed in delicate French lace. Sleeves are made of Silk Organza and trimmed with the same delicate French lace. Both the underskirt and overskirt are a very full 90″ in diameter. The dress ties in the back with a full organza bow. The dress is completely lined in 100% Cotton Batiste with an attached slip. The back closes with five mother-of-pearl buttons.

The “Patricia” is a Handmade, Heirloom First Communion Gown of 100% Handkerchief Linen, trimmed in Swiss edging of beautiful, delicate flowers at the hemline and sleeves. Bodice features pleats framing the Swiss Embroidered Floral insertion at the center, and a collar edged in Swiss scallop trim. Side ties come to a beautiful full bow in the back. Fully lined with an attached slip in 100% Cotton Batiste. Back closes with five mother of pearl buttons.

These dresses range from $199 (the Patricia) to $225 (the other three dresses). They are custom-made and require eight weeks to make and ship.

What do you think? Pricey? Yes. But if you look at it as a family dress as opposed to a dress for one girl for one day, is the price a bit more palatable? Am I just trying to rationalize it?! (They are sooooo gorgeous!)

I adore a beautifully hand-smocked little girl’s dress. Nothing sweeter.

For The Love of Smocking is a shop on Etsy that has some of the most classic smocked dressed I’ve seen in a long time. Nothing kitschy or theme-y. Just great fabric (lots of floral and calico), puff sleeves, peter pan collars and traditional smocking.

Behold:

There are quite a few more in the For The Love of Smocking shop right now – ranging from $25 to $70 (for sizes 3 mos. to 5 yrs.).

Another Etsy shop – Gumdrop Grove – has some gorgeous smocked dresses as well:

The one pictured here is listed at $58 – which is about the same ballpark for most of the dresses in this shop.

Are you a smocked dress fan? Do you know how to smock? Is my affection for smocking nostalgia or old-fashioned?

Back in August, my kids were invited to participate in a back-to-school fashion show at a local luxury department store. They were awesome. And they rocked their outfits!

Maggie in Juicy Couture jeggings, polo, cardigan and jacket. Shoes by Stuart Weitzman (got those on the sale rack at Marshalls!).

The boys rehearsing for their television appearance.

Charlie in dmo baby shirt and vest and the most adorable teeny True Religion jeans.

George in Ben Sherman tshirt and snap-front shirt with 7 for All Mankind jeans and his own high-top Chuck Taylors by Converse.

Harry in a tshirt by Ben Sherman, jacket by dmo baby and skinny jeans by Diesel.

This little ham had the MOST fun being on TV and walking the runway!

Yesterday, I posted some great red, white & blue kids’ clothing I came across on Etsy. Good choices for fun Fourth of July wear. Here’s a few more!

Ogekko, $28 at etsy.com

GaGa’s Baby Designs, $30 at etsy.com

Pink Petunia Pearl, $15 at etsy.com

In honor of the Memorial Day holiday and our nation’s troops, present and past, many kids are sporting the red, white and blue this weekend. And I know that many more will break out their patriotic clothes for Fourth of July weekend as well. There’s more to choose from than the flag t-shirt at Old Navy though!

Noah and Lilah, $15 at etsy.com

Daffodillies, $15 at etsy.com

The Pea Green Boat, $68 for both top and clamdiggers at etsy.com

Bella Jean Boutique, $45 at etsy.com

We haven’t had much in the way of celebrity kid fashion here lately. Honestly, I’ve just been a bit lazy about looking for it. But I noticed a photo of Suri Cruise the other day in which she and her mother had on matching purple ballet flats. The caption said that the adult pair cost $150 and the child’s pair cost $75. So I went hunting for other pics of Suri and her shoes…despite the press she gets when she sports a little heel, girl loves her flats.

Here are the purple ones (love the dress):

And these (I actually found two different pics of these shoes – she’s wearing socks in each):

Some open-toes slingback flats:

And these little leopard-print babies:

And…a few to check out for your own little girl/shoe addict:

Girls’ Shoes by Boden
Girls’ Shoes by D&G

Today was the first day in a long while that it wasn’t cool and rainy here. Now that it’s sunny and warm and we don’t need raincoats or rain boots, I ran across this. A darling jacket by Boden – they describe it as “shower-resistant”. It’s cotton and has a detachable hood. And lots of dots. Very cute dots.

At $56, it’s not Target-cheap but it’s not anywhere near the $1,000 Burberry kids’ trenches I refrained from featuring here…

I have found myself gravitating towards black and white stripes for myself this spring. Am I the willing victim of solid fashion marketing? Maybe. Oh, well…as long as it’s cute, I guess I’ll take what the stores are subliminally spoon-feeding me!

And I’m loving the black and white striped options for little girls too! Though not classic “little girl” – no pastels, no flowers, no frills – there is something terribly sweet about a girl in stripes. Even black and white ones. Sweet and kinda punk rock at the same time. My kinda girl…

Black & White Stripes for Spring

Although it seems a bit contrary, a bit punk rock, black and white on a little girl can be quite sweet.

Girls’ Tees by Gap
Girls’ Sweaters by Pumpkin Patch

disclosure: I am a compensated ShopStyle affiliate.