Shake up the Holidays with Looks from Bobinette and The Belle and the Beau

Ready to break with traditional colors, reindeer motifs, and argyle sweater vests this holiday season? Bobinette and The Belle and the Beau are two hot children's designers offering fashion-forward, colorful and festive alternatives for boys for holiday dressing and portraits.

I've featured Bobinette before (read the June 2009 article here) because I simply adore their hip, unbelievably soft, high quality shirts, like the navy polka dot, above, and red gingham print, right (modeled by my unboring boy, Nick). Bobinette's shirts are bright and cool, have fun details like contrasting cuffs and buttons, and can be dressed up or down. (click on the photos for a closer view.)

After you pick your favorite Bobinette shirt, pair it with a fabulous neck tie from The Belle and the Beau. The Belle and the Beau's two-mom design team makes the sweetest neck ties and bow ties for boys ages 6 months to teen (and men too!). My favorite? Who can pick just one? Don't be afraid to pair a dotted tie with a plaid shirt. Experiment! Go wild! It's fun and trendy to mix prints and patterns. But even if you go with a plain white button down, a tie from The Belle and the Beau will keep your little man front and center in holiday portraits. Those of you with girls may end up coordinating your daughter's holiday dress to match your son's look this year instead of the other way around!

SnackTAXI Reusable Eco-friendly Snack Bags

Right after school started, I realized I was using way too many little plastic zipper bags to pack my boys' lunches. I felt guilty, because we all know where those bags go: to the landfills, where it takes a gazillion years for them to break down and even then tiny, toxic bits of them remain in soil and water.

That's why I was so exited to come across SnackTAXI's reusable snack and sandwich bags. Each SnackTAXI bag can eliminate the use of 1000 zipper bags, which makes them both eco- and wallet-friendly. The bags are made in the U.S., are washable, and are 100% cotton with a nylon lining that is free of lead and phthalates. The quality is excellent for the money ($6.95-8.95 ea.) and Velcro closures make it easy for little hands to open. Did I mention they are way cooler than boring plastic zipper bags?

SnackTAXI bags come in great prints that will appeal to boys, including the Jungle Jumble print, above. I also love the Signs of the Times and Fly by Day bags, but there are prints to fit every personality. Check out all the pretty styles for moms, too.

One lucky Unboring Boys reader will win a 2 piece set of SnackTAXI bags including a Sign of the Times sandwich bag and a Groovy Guitar snack bag! Just visit www.SnackTAXI.com then e-mail unboringboys@yahoo.com with the phrase SNACKTAXI in the subject line and tell us how many lunches owner Erin Kelly-Dill packs in a year. We'll draw a winner at random November 10th. U.S. residents only, please. Good luck!

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Ants in the pants and on the sleeve and...: Blemish brand boys' clothes

At Unboring Boys, we are always on the lookout for new themes for boys. While bugs show up pretty regularly on boys' clothes, this is the first time we've seen a line designed so cleverly around ants.

Blemish, a Dutch company based in Amsterdam, has come up with a hip and quirky collection of ant-inspired clothes for boys including shirts, tees, pants and a coat. Along with the fabulous ant shirts and tee shown left and below, tiny embroidered ants appear on other pieces in the collection.

I love that Blemish does this for each of its collections, hiding that season's insect or animal (for spring/summer it was a crab) in unexpected places, like on a shirt sleeve or hidden under a collar!

Blemish, which means "not perfect," designs clothes for real boys, with a focus on comfort, quality and affordability. Pants have reinforced knees and adjustable waists. Tees are made with extra soft cotton. Shirts are made from Parisian fabrics with contrast cuffs and collars that offer a distinctly European aesthetic.

You can find Blemish clothes for boys in the U.S. at Barney's, Space Kiddets, Aminah et les amis, and Estella in New York; Marcia's Attic in New Jersey; 3 Monkeys and Me and Swaddle, Toddle and Bump in Connecticut; and The Red Balloon, LMNOP, and Stinky Pants in Chicago.

7 Key Pieces to Update Your Little Boy's Wardrobe for Fall

Read our article 7 Fall Must-Haves for Boys in which we introduce many of the fall/winter trends that have recently been featured here to a new audience. Also included are some new pieces from Tea Collection and NicoNico.

Unboring Boys is officially one year old (as of 9/2)! When I first started this blog, I wasn't sure if anyone would even read it. I wondered, Were there other moms out there as interested in trendy boys' clothes as I was? Or was I weird? It turned out I'm not weird because there are plenty of moms just like me who want their boys to stand out on the playground. :)

I want to take this opportunity to thank all the fabulous designers and boutique owners who have so generously provided insight, discounts and giveaway items over the past year. I loved hearing your stories in the interviews. I also want to thank our readers for convincing me to continue. I look forward to sharing more exciting boys' lines and designers with you in the coming months.

I'd love to hear what you think of the blog so far. Post a comment letting me know what you like and what you want to see more of. And if you have a favorite designer or shop, let me know about that too.

~ Cheers, Denice

And the lucky winner is...

Congratulations to Katie in Nashville, TN who won the Baby Star camp shirt! Thanks to all our readers who participated and to Baby Star for being a sponsor.

More fabulous features, giveaways and exclusive savings are coming! Please share Unboring Boys children's fashion blog with other moms of boys you know. Sign up for e-mail updates, or follow us through Blogger or on Twitter.

The Henry Shirt by One Girl Circus

I wish I had discovered the Henry shirt by One Girl Circus back in April/May, but since it's practically 90 degrees here in Northern Virginia, I'm OK with featuring one last short-sleeved shirt especially one so special. I love everything about this piece. The Mendocino print is SO sweet (love the seahorses!), the colors are gorgeous, and the overall design is artfully inspired and memorable.

"I carry a sketchbook with me everywhere," Karen, owner and designer behind One Girl Circus (found on 1000 Markets), says. "I jot down ideas and draw parts of garments until I fill out a complete idea. I think about construction methods before I go to sleep, and usually any issues with a pattern I'm developing will work themselves out in my sleep." Read on for more about her background and design process.

Unboring Boys: What inspires your designs for boys?

Karen: My son, Peter, is the main inspiration. He is simultaneously outdoorsy, bookish and creative, so I try to picture a range of uses for any one garment. He deals with Asperger Syndrome and Sensory Integration Disorder, so my inspiration is more than design-oriented. I'm very concerned about comfort and durability. All the interior seams are enclosed. My tags are soft ribbon and stitched down completely. I probably focus a little obsessively on the comfort of my designs, but I figure the only way garments will become favorites is if they are as comfortable as pajamas.

Unboring Boys: How do you go about choosing certain fabrics and prints?

Karen: I stick with natural fabrics, organic whenever possible. I love bamboo for knits, and hemp and organic cotton, too. It's a challenge trying to balance cost and value. I'm concientious about my purchases, supporing local businesses and companies with humane business practices, which carries over to my business purchases.

Unboring Boys: What are you doing when you are not designing and sewing?

Karen: I just learned how to ride a motorcycle, so that was pretty exciting (and fuel efficient when driving alone). I practice yoga. I sing. I'm a mom to two kids and a step-mother to two more, so I have my hands full on any given day. I love to try out new vegan recipes with my kids and we all love to hike together. My husband travels a lot so I stay up late to get work done, but I am invigorated by creating with my hands, and put loving kindness into everything I make.

Thanks Karen for taking time to answer our questions! Visit One Girl Circus on 1000 Markets to see all her beautiful creations for boys and girls. Through 9/30/09 Karen is offering free priority mail shipping to Unboring Boys readers. Use code "Unboring" at checkout.

2009 Unboring Boys Back-to-School Guide

After spending $40 on glue sticks (twin kindergartners X 10 glue sticks each and these must be JUMBO sticks and not just any brand but ELMER'S and not the purple kind that dries clear but the CLEAR kind to begin with *deep breaths*) there's not much money left to spend on clothes and accessories for my boys. But I do want them to stand out in the crowd. Here, some things I simply could not pass up (or live without) for back-to-school.

Rock & Rattle's Nerd shirt (shown above, 2T-6T) is my very favorite tee for fall. It's perfect for a little rocket-scientist or programmer-to-be (or future A/V guy). And you know the teacher will love it. On chilly days, layer it over a long-sleeved tee (the layered look is hot again this year). Just for Unboring Boys readers, Rock and Rattle is offering a 15 percent discount on orders through 9/18/09 (applies to anything in their shop). Just e-mail them directly at info@rockandrattle.com with order details to receive the discount.

I am really loving Fat Ties shirts right now, especially the long-sleeved Rusty tee (2T-7). It's only $15 and that's before the 10 percent discount you get just for being an Unboring Boys reader. Use UB10 at checkout (discount valid through 8/31/09).

Vincent children's shoes and boots are WAY cooler than plain old sneakers and they are just as comfortable to wear and look great with jeans, especially this year's skinny styles. And Vincent has just come out with some to-die-for new styles for back-to-school. My favorites? The Kevin (shown, left) and Rudolf styles. I am so impressed with the quality and construction of these leather boots that I wish they came in my size. I love the little velcro strap and suede detail on the Kevin. Unique boots or shoes can really add pizazz to an outfit and you'll find a great collection at Vincent, each for about what you'd pay for a pair of forgettable sneakers.

It's hard to find backpacks for school-aged boys that aren't printed with the usual boy themes or licensed characters (this year its Bakugan--ugh). I like Hatley's Aliens backpack (shown, $29.99) with it's spaceships, planets and quirky extraterrestrials. It's the perfect size for all my kindergartner's school things plus it's sturdy and well made with easy to use zippers and a little organizer for pens, ID in the outside pocket. Coordinate it with the matching Aliens lunch tote, raincoat and umbrella for the total look. Looking for something for older boys? Try the Rocker School backpack from Four Peas.

Being the mom of a skinny 6-year-old, it can be frustrating to find pants that fit. That's why I was so excited to find Myself Belts. One end of the belt snaps to a loop to keep it secure while Henry can fasten the belt with Velcro all by himself. Ingenious! My favorite is the Flag Belt ($14.95).

You can scrawl your child's last name on his clothes tags with a Sharpie marker OR you can get some really cool personalized labels from Mabel's Labels. Check out their Ultimate Back-to-School combo that includes labels for clothes and shoes, and personalized metal tags to hang on backpacks and lunch totes.