Not your ordinary construction tee

Diggers, bulldozers, dump trucks. We seriously didn't think there was anything new to be seen in the "construction equipment" category. But check out this awesome T-shirt from Kiki Kid's Wear ($16.99, sizes 4-8). I don't know about your boys, but mine go nuts when they see tower cranes in the distance. This would look great with a long-sleeved shirt layered underneath.

I've been told Kiki Kid's Wear will be adding some pieces for fall/winter soon and the new designs for boys and baby boys, inspired by works of art, sound really interesting. Give them a look.

Unboring Sweater Vests

Some boys, like my Henry, are just born to wear sweater vests. One of my favorites this season is this adorable frog sweater vest from Marika Hahn Design. This shop carries a collection of fun, colorful, hand-knitted sweaters for boys (and girls) featuring Marika Hahn's graphics and prints (up to size 7).

Argyle vests are everywhere this season (as they are every season, right?), but how many have you seen with a hood? IKKS's Adventure Toddler Argyle Hoodie is so cool ($56.95, 12 mos.-3). Also in the not-so-ordinary-argyle category: Tea Collection's Viking Vest ($55, 6 mos.-8 yrs.). Can I just say that Tea is really showing the love to boys this season. Have you seen their new Nordic Navigator collection?!

For something a little different (and interesting from a design standpoint), check out the ribbed vest from Chasing Fireflies ($58, sizes 2-8).

Finally, the fall colors in the Duex par Deux Origins vest at Baby Boy Style are so rich ($26.40, 12 mos.-4t). Can't you just see your unboring boy wearing this at the pumpkin patch?

Nightshirts for Boys?

You're probably wondering what Spanky from the Little Rascals has to do with boys' nightshirts. There is a connection, sort of. :)

Last year for a school project, Nick and Henry painted dinosaurs on T-shirts using fabric paint. The shirts are about 2 sizes too big and very soft, so one night I suggested they sleep in them. Ever since, if the tees are clean, that's what the boys want to sleep in. They like them for the comfort and because they are easy to put on.

Searching online for actual nightshirts for boys, I found a few UK brands. But among American retailers, I couldn't find a single one. Probably because of concerns related to fire safety. Most pjs today are snug fitting so they won't easily catch fire. But I saw plenty of nightgowns for girls in my search that met US flammability standards, so nightshirts for boys aren't out of the realm of possibility.

It would be nice to have another option for my boys besides the standard two-piece or footed pajamas. I'd definitely buy nightshirts for them. How about you? Would your boy wear one? Is there a market for boys' nightshirts? Or have these gone the way of knickers and beanies?

I for one think the Little Rascal look is kind of cute, which is why I just had to post this adorable picture of Spanky--an unboring boy if ever there was one.

p.s. While shopping, have you run across any nightshirts for boys? Tell me where!

More Cute Sweaters

How adorable is this Andes Mountain sweater from Blue Eye Boy? It's got to be one of our favorite sweaters for boys this fall. Blue Eye Boy carries a collection of these beautiful, one of a kind sweaters handcrafted in Peru that are decorated with different scenes, from a farm to Noah's Ark to a rainforest. I spoke with Tamara, the owner of Blue Eye Boy who told me there is currently a two-week back order on these, so e-mail her through her website to reserve one for your unboring boy.

Another of our favorites this fall is the Lobster Sweater Hoodie from Then There was Jake. This division of My Boy Sam has a wonderful collection of boys' sweaters, including holiday, that are available through boutiques. We also like Baby Gap's Whale Sweater and for older boys, Mulberribush's Guitar Sweater, which goes all the way up to size 14 and is on sale right now at CWD Kids.

Hanna Andersson always carries the cutest sweaters, especially for babies. Our favorite this fall is the Penguin Hoodie romper, which fits babies up to 2 1/2 years.

Coming up next on the blog: our favorite sweater vests; a feature about another fabulous boys only boutique (hint: we mentioned them in this post); and a plea to boys' pajama makers.

Sweater Series: Preppy

Georgie World's Grandpa Sweater last week got me thinking about sweaters in general, so for the next couple of weeks Unboring Boys is searching far and wide for the cutest, classiest and funkiest sweaters around for boys of all sizes, and to fit all budgets.

Our sweater series starts today with the clean and classic, or preppy, look. Boring, you say? There's nothing boring about good taste. We love Crewcuts for Kids (by J.Crew) for classic sweaters with a twist, like the argyle shawl collar sweater above ($62.50, sizes 2-10). If you really want to splurge on your little man, consider their handsome heirloom quality cashmere cable cardigan.

Brooks Brothers, in business since 1818, makes fine clothes for men, women and boys. What, no girls' clothes??? I'm in shock. :) We like the understated yet refined Merino Striped V-Neck Sweater ($79.50, in sizes 3-16) that can be dressed up or down.

I'm loving Janie and Jack's new Uptown Holiday line for boys, especially the Diamond Pattern Sweater ($42, sizes 3 months-8 yrs.) and matching socks!

Cardigans for boys are hot this season. Check out Baby Gap's adorable shawl cardigan ($29.50, newborn to 24 months).

And if all of these are little too uptight for your unboring boy, you'll love the Striped Sweater Hoodie, also from Baby Gap, for a classic yet casual look ($$39.50, 12 mos.-5).

Next time: Our picks for the cutest sweaters for boys this season (think: awwwww)

What's your favorite sweater style? Classic, cute, edgy? We want to know! Post a comment!

Georgie World

I always get excited when I run across little boutiques just for boys.

Not that I want to exclude girls, but have you ever gone into a so-called children's boutique and had to walk all the way to the back of the store to find the one rack for boys? Even in the retail chains, it's hard to notice the boys' clothes because the girls' clothes are so colorful and there's so much of it.

Anyway, I love finding boys' shops, and Georgie World is my favorite right now. Not only are the clothes adorable, hip and unboring, they are well made, comfortable to wear, and made in "Sunny California." My favorite piece is the Grandpa Sweater (above). It looks like a sweater, but it's made of fleece, so it feels like a sweatshirt. What a great idea! And it looks fab with the Cammer Trouser seen here.

Right now I'm really loving retro cars, so there was no way I could resist this cool tee with a Pinto on it. It's so unbelievably soft. My son Nick never wants to take it off.

I like that Georgie World offers complete outfits for one price (and the prices are excellent for the quality and detail). We picked up the playdate outfit. The Sk8 Monster shirt has flannel sleeves sewn in. How neat is that?

Sizes run from 2T all the way up to 12.

Shop Georgie World here!

Fall 2008 Tea Collection

Over the past year, I've been on a mission to stop catalogs from being mailed to my house. It's just easier for me to browse online and cutting back on paper helps the environment. I have to confess, though, there's one catalog I still enjoy getting in the mail: the seasonal one from Tea. Whenever it shows up in my mailbox, I can't wait to snuggle up on the couch and savor it. The photography is some of the best I've seen. And because I love traveling, I'm drawn to Tea's culturally inspired clothing lines as well as its forward-thinking global philosophy.

The girls' clothes are always to-die-for. (I wish some of it came in women's sizes!). But Tea never forgets the boys. This fall I love the Fjord Cargo pants and Buck shirt with its unique deer print, a stylized twist on the typical fall outdoorsy theme. The fox and bear tees with Japanese sayings ("strength through virtue") really caught my eye. And what mother of an unboring baby boy can resist the dragon one piece?

Another thing I like about Tea? The three- and five-piece sets for babies and older kids they put together for one low price ($65-95). Tea's clothing comes in sizes newborn to eight yrs. depending on the item.