And the winner is.... Julie Cannon!

Congratulations to Julie Cannon who has won a fabulous Monnalisa bag from our recent competition held through our newsletter.

"Childrensalon offer 1st class customer service & they have a fantastic range of beautiful products, the best online childrens website i have ever used!"

Julie's comment about Childrensalon was picked at random from a wonderful selection of entries. We thoroughly enjoyed reading all of them and would like to thank everyone who entered! Watch out for more prize giving competitions that will be coming shortly to our newsletter readers.

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Here's a selection of various other entries we received:

"What i love about Childrensalon is the amazing selection of clothing from a variety of designers, i love looking through the wonderful website that is fantastically set out, its fabulous, a real treat."
- Jennifer Wall

"Hi
One of the best things about your site is, that it is so easy to use.
All the good brands that you have, a speciale Roberto Cavalli. ( i just love it )
I am also very happy for the currency exchange, it make it so much easier to shop on the site.
When ever i had a problem or question your employee has been very helpfull and polite on the phone.
That was some of the god things about your site.
Thanks"
- Sandra Blokgaard, Denmark

"I like best the unbelievable range of labels that turn children into princes and princesses at prices that are affordable in todays economy"
- Jane Brook

"Good Morning,
I like almost everything ….
Starting from the way you display the item in your site, the easy way of checking out, the fast shipping, unique style and items …. ect
Where ever I shop in my city I always go back and pick the things I saw in your site for my kids"
- Elaf AL - Tattan

"Children's salon is the best place to shop for kids clothes as the choice of clothes and the service is unbeatable."
- Maria Hicks

"My name is Rosana Mor, I'm from Spain and I live in a small town.
I must to tell that Childrensalon is not only the best shop online , is the best boutique for childrens in all categories, is better than any store in my city, and you can shop all the days if you want."
- Rosana Mor

"I love Childrensalin because you always satisfy my children elegant fashion style."
- Kher-Sing ONG

"i love everyting you have,,,yes all"
- Maria Welsh

"My Favourite web site for children clothes. :) "
- Hanan Nasralla, Qatar

"What I like best about Childrensalon is your website and how easy it is to navigate. Of course I also like the sales and the options in regards to the available designers. The service is good. Shipping is prompt."
- Glenda Morales, Canada

"Classical simplicity with sophistication, never get out of style"
- Kamini

"I like to shop at Childrensalon because it provides varieties of brands and reasonable price, including international shipping service."
- Donna Lee

Preview the Autumn/Winter 2009 Collections

Ready to start planning your wardrobe for the new season? Or just fancy a taster of what's to come, and what's new?? We thought you might!

You can preview the new collections for Autumn/Winter 2009 here.

They will be online and available for purchase soon, so keep an eye out!

Pick of the day

John Galliano is one of the most influential designers of our time. And he's very popular with us too! On top of designing his fantastic own-name collections, he is also the man behind the legendary fashion house Christian Dior.



He always has a fun, flamboyant and wild flair when he designs, and this certainly shows through to his children's collection - where his playful imagination is translated into stunning clothing for young girls and guys who aren't afraid to make a fashion statement. But we almost don't need to tell you that with this dress, it speaks for itself! Click here to see it...

Click here to shop the John Galliano collection

Here's some more pictures from his ladies collection that inspired this mini-me version:

Interview with Burberry designer, Christopher Bailey

Christopher Bailey is the talented man behind Britain biggest luxury brand, Burberry. He is known and celebrated for being the down to earth character that manages to keep a perfect balance of Burberry's heritage and tradition with fresh and contemporary design to create clothes that are completely of the moment.



Because we know the brand is so popular with our customers, we thought we would share this interesting interview done recently with the man himself...

The Burberry tartan is one of the most famous trademarks in the world. What are your own trademarks, passions and fetishes?
Christopher Bailey: One of my biggest things is that I love the countryside. People don't usually associate that with a fashion designer, but it's something that's really important or me. I was brought up in the countryside. I love gardening and spending time in agricultural surroundings.

How very British of you. You're almost as British as Madonna. Do you have horses, too?
I do have horses in my field. That probably makes me a big fat cliché.

More like a thin cliché. You're quite thin.
Well, I'd like to be, but I'm drinking too much.

Welcome to the club! Burberry is such a quintessentially British brand. Are you an Anglophile?
I've never considered myself an Anglophile. I've lived all over the world. I've lived in New York, Munich, Paris, Milan for a long time. Now I'm back in the UK, which is kind of weird. I do love my roots. I do love England and its diversity, but I also love being in other cities. I'd get claustrophobic in one place. Today we're in Manhattan, tomorrow I'm in London, Saturday in Yorkshire...

What's in Yorkshire?
That's where I live. I have a home there, a little cottage.

It must be a very sweet cottage.
It is a very sweet cottage. It's also very old, from 1633. It's an old farmhouse, surrounded by fields and cows and horses.

I bet you've done it up very nicely.
Actually I just finished a huge renovation. I hope it's nice. It's very simple. I love it.

What's your taste when it comes to interiors?
I don't like things when they feel too prissy or untouchable. If you're going to have a sofa then it should be a big sloppy sofa. I like a bit of grime and dirt as well. I don't like things too spotless and perfect. The same with clothes. I want clothes to feel like you own them, not like they own you. They should be a little disheveled and broken down.

Like they have stories to tell.
Yes, exactly. I love stories and poetry.

Do you really like poetry?
I don't love poetry. [Laughs.] We have something on English TV at the moment. They're trying to promote poetry in the UK, so I'm going to start reading poetry. I think I haven't been patient enough in the past.

I know music, too, is one of your interests. And I hear you discovered One Night Only, the band that's playing at tonight's launch...
I wouldn't say I discovered them. I would love to say that. I guess I found them before they hit.

What does music mean to you and how does it play into your work?
Music is so important. I love so many different types of music, from classical to one of my favorite artists, Bob Dylan. I love Joni Mitchell, the Stones, punk, the Pistols.

I'd love to see a punk-inspired Burberry collection. What would that look like?
I'm always a little influenced by punk anyway. But I like it when you discover that it's influenced by punk rather than wearing safety pins all over.

Not that you've never done that.
Not that I've never done that.

What's the most outrageous thing you've ever worn?
I was never crazy, but I did dye my hair blue. That's not so wild.

A lot of designers pretend like they lead normal lives, but it's rarely true. What's a typical weekend like for you?
I spend a lot of time in my studio working on a gazillion things, from fragrances to new buildings to designing furniture, and of course all the collections. But I also have my life outside the office, though I'm not a party person. I like to celebrate but I prefer intimacy to big parties, so I will usually go out for dinner or cook for friends and family. I spent last weekend with my family. We just cooked, read the newspapers, drank too much.

Let's talk about the new New York headquarters. It's a huge undertaking.
Yes, a labor of love. It's slightly smaller than our new London global headquarters. We designed it with the same plans, same layout, same furniture. But we do not have the big Burberry sign in London.

Neon just feels so New York.
Exactly. It's one of only six grandfathered buildings in New York where you can do that, so it's a big deal for us to be able to affect the iconic Manhattan skyline, which I love. And everyone here has a great can-do attitude. You guys are always glass half-full, whereas maybe in the UK we're a bit glass half-empty. There's always such camaraderie in New York. It's a pleasure being here.

Source: Hint Mag

See the Burberry childrenswear online

Jean Paul Gaultier does kids

The enfant terrible of Paris fashion, Jean Paul Gaultier, entered a new fashion realm - and a favourite one of ours - childrenswear. Not one for sticking to conventions, he introduced his new kids collection by parading some very dapper-looking children down his catwalk show in Paris. The collection was made up of traditional tailoring with a twist, topped of with afro wigs!

As big fans of his eponymous adult collection, and equally huge admirers of his work for Hermès, we are excited to announce we have bought his new collection for Autumn/Winter 2009. The collection goes up to 14 year and should arrive in June. Ohh, the excitement! Who will be next, we wonder??!

"Cute, but also kind of joyous." - Style.com

"It was a parade of trendy young things off to church in their Sunday best" - Vogue

Burberry Styling Day

Last Thursday, some of our fashion advisors and staff members (nine, in total!) spent the day at Burberry’s headquarters in London to learn all about the collection for the coming season, Autumn/Winter 2009.

Burberry is a luxurious brand with a British sensibility and a truly great heritage, so we always thoroughly enjoy working with the brand and learning as much from their knowledge as possible.

The day helped all our customer advisers perfect their styling skills in time for the coming season. And just to give our lovely readers an advanced tip on the collection to come, expect lots of checks, soft cashmere, catwalk inspirations and a very special bag!

If you would like to see preview pictures of the collection, please contact us.

Champney's Mother & Baby Event

Childrensalon are delighted to be working in association with Champneys spa and supporting their Mother and Baby Event, which is being held on Wednesday 27th May, from 6.30 to 8.30pm.

Located next door to our store in Tunbridge Wells, Champneys are offering the chance for new mums in the area to meet and socialise, whilst enjoying an evening sampling some of their luxurious pampering products and treatments. As part of this, Childrensalon will also be offering some special discounts for those who attend - so if you’re local to Tunbridge Wells, why not come along for what sounds like a lovely evening!

Coco before Chanel

Legendary couturier and creator of the little black dress, Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel, is the subject of an exciting new movie called 'Coco avant Chanel', or 'Coco before Chanel'. The part will be played by actress Audrey Tautou. The film focuses on the early life of the designer - starting with her arrival at the orphanage that she grew up in, which is also where she learnt to sew. Tatou has portrayed Chanel so well that the design house has chosen her to succeed Nicole Kidman in the new campaign for the No. 5 perfume, which launched on the fifth of this month.

There are so many reasons why we are thrilled about a biopic movie based on the life of Chanel! Not only did she create a fashion revolution, the story of the mysterious designers life is riveting. The flapper image of the 1920s was popularised by Chanel, who pioneered a new breed of women. She gave women freedom. Women who could ditch the corset and instead wear comfortable or revealing clothes, smoke cigarettes, listen to jazz music, drink, drive cars. A bit of a rebel to conventions, she didn't believe in being kept down by 'the man'. She also charmed the rich and powerful and reaped the benefits (she spent most of the second world war tucked up in The Ritz hotel.)

It was really Chanel who was the first designer to be a celebrity and icon in her own right.

We had better start brushing up on our French skills, pronto!

still images from the film:






Portrait of Coco Chanel in 1935:


Chanel in 1938


Chanel in the 1960s adding some finishing touches:


The film premiered in Paris on April 22nd.

Pick of the day

The idea of walking a mile in someones shoes suddenly felt more appealing when we received the new delivery of Roberto Cavalli footwear. Sticking with his signature flamboyant style, these shoes are funky, fun and bound to put some Spring in any young hipsters step!

See the footwear collection here.

Bahrain Princess loves Ralph Lauren Childrenswear

London based stylist's blog, run by Rebekah Roy, recently interviewed Bahrain Princess and "International style icon" Raya Al Khalifa. Whilst reading the interesting article - which reveals her style inspiration and how being a mum has influenced the way she dresses - we were delighted to discover that she not only loves the Ralph Lauren childrenswear range that we so adore, she also dresses her son in their stylish attire!

Here's a peek at some of the interview:

How would you describe your style?
RA: Being Middle Eastern and having a good dose of Floridian glamour injected to my aesthetic tastes means I really love opulence and shiny bright pretty things. The Londoner in me, however, pulls some of it back, creating the perfect blend so as not to make me look too tropical or typical or even tragic… I hope!

What inspires your style?
RA - Location! I can get away with different things in Europe than America and the same for the Middle East. So my location inspires me. Art, sub-culture, and fashion shows inspire me as well! I’m always ready and willing to try something that seems a bit avant-garde before it does become very commercial.

Do you prefer Middle Eastern fashion or Western Style?
RA: I genuinely love and am inspired by both.

What fashion magazine/websites/etc. do you like?
RA: Elle, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, both US and UK editions and I dutifully report to style.com to check out the shows and trends!

As a new mother are you finding that you’re shopping habits or passion for fashion has been affected?
RA: Having a son I have discovered my inner tomboy. I’m more ready to get dirty in the park while in London or run in the desert back home. Because of this I have expanded on my daily casual uniform. What was once heels and pristine outfits are now over the knee flat boots with leggings and a black mini Lady Dior bag with gold hardware worn with the shoulder strap. I’m also lusting after the hunter and Jimmy Choo collaboration, which yielded what is the most stylish Wellington boot I’ve ever seen! Croc embossed rubber boots!

Do you think your son will inherit your great style?
RA: I’m already dressing him like his father, which means English gentleman with a touch of polo player chic. Ralph Lauren children’s line is a dream, and has mini me versions of the men’s clothing line for little boys. There I just got him a lovely linen summer beige suit; complete with a green and yellow tie, and a colorful handkerchief for the jacket pocket!

Do you enjoy doing your own shopping?
RA: I love shopping I consider it to be my therapy!

By the sound of it, the lovely Raya has managed to transfer her eye for style from her own to dressing her son very successfully. We would have loved to seen the outfit on!

To view the Ralph Lauren's childrenswear range, click here.