Marni kidswear launches

 

The eagerly awaited Marni Children range designed by Consuelo Castiglioni, has just landed in the Sloane Street store. Now let's be honest here, these are uber-designer garbs for little ones with price tags to match (from £232 for the above cardigan to an eye-watering £467 for the below padded jacket, ahem!). Still, CLB is swooning at the cute, charmingly naive yet modern designs that are so typically Marni. Truth is, we prefer them to the grown-up collections. Sadly, Victoria Beckham will have to wait a whole two years to dress Harper Seven in Marni as it's aimed at 2-12 year old girls.

Marni, 26 Sloane Street, London SW1X 9NE (0207 245 9520/www.marni.com)      
                                  

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The ultimate hospital bag?

Olivia baby changing bag, £98, Storksak at Funkymoose

Enter code CLB for 10% off!

With CLB #2 due next Friday (I'm booked in for an elective c-section at UCH) I thought I'd better get my hospital bag sorted. It's been packed for a couple of weeks JUST IN CASE but I have been through it and edited it down to what I consider the bare essentials. Alongside the obligatory antenatal notes, newborn nappies and big pants, below is what I've whittled it down to. What is/was a must for your hospital bag?

1. An old-fashion fan (I find hospital wards insufferably hot so it's my no.1 essential)
2. Some comfy but chic PJs. I love the selection at Babes with Babies
3. Aden + Anais swaddles for new babe. Necessity!
4. Some Mocci slippers for grown-ups, which I can keep on the whole time (great for putting over those unflattering post-surgery stockings and you can even sleep in them)
5. A couple of good breastfeeding tops by Boob that look presentable when visitors come
6. A wrap - for me instead of a dressing gown as it's more versatile
7. Some 'Say Yes to Cucumbers' facial wipes - really excellent and refreshing
8. Neal's Yard Rose & Almond night cream which arrives in a handy tube
9. Burt's Bees organic lipbalm
10. All of the above folded neatly into a new baby changing bag - I chose the Olivia by Storksak at Funkymoose (CLB readers get a further 10% off by quoting CLB at check out)

Muji fan, £6.95

Dotty Mama nursing PJs, £45, Babes with Babies

Jungle Jam swaddles, £24.95, Aden + Anais

Adult Moccis, £28

Seraphine breastfeeding wrap, £42

Nursing top, £35, Boob

Yes to Cucumbers facial wipes, £4.99, Feelunique.com

 

Burt's Bees lip balm, £3.69

Neal's Yard Rose & Almond night cream, £19.90

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CLB ♥ Essie Jain's beautiful lullabies

Album cover art by Iker Spozio

As I sit here tapping, contemplating the arrival of my next baby girl in a couple of weeks time, I am listening to the soothing and soporific tones of NYC-based songwriter, Essie Jain. Jain, whose gentle, folksy voice and elegant piano and guitar melodies, were already a hit amongst grown-ups, realised her talents could be used to soothe babies before bedtime. Until The Light of Morning is her first album of lullabies. Featuring eight truly beautiful lullabies from the deeply moving Lay Down to the sleep-enhancing Tip Toes, it is without doubt my new favourite thing. Finally music that mummy, daddy, toddler and baby-to-be can enjoy together at the end of a hard day. Even the cat likes it. Our lives just got richer.

Listen to samples from her album here  

Until The Light of Morning CD is $12 here or from $0.99 per song on iTunes

Essie Jain shot by Brock Fetch, 2011

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Pretty Pregnant opens in Islington

I just nipped into the newly opened Pretty Pregnant store on Upper Street to pick up some nursing tops for the forthcoming arrival of CLB #2. And what a joy it was. Big, bright and airy with super helpful staff and a handy play area for toddlers, I didn't want to leave. As well as stocking a great range of clothing (both smart and everyday) for mums-to-be from pretty frocks by BellyButton to bump-friendly 7 For All Mankind jeans, there's a good section of pop-pregnancy nursing bras and clothing by brands such as Swedish label Boob (I bought two excellent breast-feeding tops for half price in the current sale). They even offer an at-home bra measuring service - perfect for new mummies who find it hard to get out. North London mums-to-be have been somewhat neglected in the chic maternity shop department, with most of the stylish ones being located in South and West London (they also have shops in Dulwich, Clapham and Chelsea) but not anymore. Welcome to N1 PP!

Pretty Pregnant, 271 Upper Street, London N1 2UQ (0207 226 9822/www.prettypregnant.co.uk) Highbury & Islington tube. Open Mon-Sat 10 am - 6 pm, Sun 11 am - 5 pm.

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CLB ♥ Chic eKids summer sale

Yo By Mo bubble dress, was £70.75, now £35.40

Yet more summer sale bargains! This week CLB is loving the ChicEKids summer sale with huge discounts on its carefully selected designer labels for babies and children. In fact, we have an eye on the sweet-as-sugar baby girl set by Emile et Rose, pictured below, for baby #2, due in just over two weeks time! Check out the Poppy & Ned range of gorgeous merino pieces at vastly discounted prices here - a great idea to stock up for autumn now.

Bazaar dEtoiles boys velvet trousers, were £70.99, now £32.50

Emile & Rose baby girl set, was £41.99, now £25.20

BOdeBO puff sleeve dress, was £95, now £57

Poppy & Ned merino dress, was £38, now £9.75

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Dr Duve baby products

CLB had the pleasure of meeting famed German dermatologist, Dr Stefan Duve, last week when he launched a new facial at Mayfair salon, Michaeljohn. We were excited to learn of his range for babies and children which includes a 50 SPF sunscreen, shampoo and nappy rash cream. It's a fusion of age-old naturopathy combined with state-of-the-art western dermatology and reassuringly, everything is free of parabens. We've tested it out and are impressed - the moisturiser was a great consistency, easy to slather on and it left babe's skin soft but not oily. From £22 at Michaeljohn

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Turner Pocock Cazalet wallpaper offer!

Zebra print wallpaper

As CLB is on an interiors tip this week, we thought we'd alert you to the vibrant wallpaper designs of Turner Pocock Cazalet. The two main themes are wild animals and sporting designs and include stylised zebra, flamingo and tennis racket themes - all of them perfect for playrooms. Made from environmentally sustainable sources in the UK, they retail at £72 a roll. With Wimbledon in full swing, Turner Pocock Cazalet are offering readers 50 percent off its Tennis and Cricket Wallpaper until 31st July. Enter the code ‘Wimbledon2011’ at the checkout at www.turnerpocockcazalet.co.uk.

zebra wallpaper

Tennis print wallpaper - 50 per cent off until July 31

Polar Bear wallpaper

Cricket Bat wallaper, 50per cent off until July 31

Flamingo wallpaper

Flamingo wallpaper

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