New York shopping for fashion-forward tots

From couture dressing to inspiring entire fashion labels – it’s all in New York and it’s all in a day’s shopping for the next generation of celebrity fashionistas, writes Edwina Hooke.

Oh to have been blessed with the limitless love, attention and bank accounts of parents like David and Victoria. At just one-year-of-age, Harper Beckham had already inspired the term ‘tot couture’ and taken her spot among the ranks of the world’s most fashion-forward tots including Suri Cruise, the Jolie-Pitts and of course, Kingston and Zuma Rossdale. These kids know what they want and how to get it. At an age when most kids don’t know even know what it is, they’ve got it in every colour available.

Browsing Bleecker Street

It can’t be denied that in the mini fashion world Suri reigns supreme, so let’s take our lead from her. With a dress sense favouring Manhattan, this seems the perfect place to start our shopping spree but shopping can be draining, so on route to the West Village we can pick up her favourite drink, a Starbucks venti skinny mocha with whipped cream- hold the caffeine – and head on down to Bleecker St.

First stop is Bonpoint, a gorgeous French boutique featuring a wide range of kids clothing with that certain je ne sais quoi only the French can claim. Both Victoria and Harper must love the mix of little girl looks and classic shapes with on trend colour palates. Created over 30 years ago by Marie-France Cohen, it has the prestige of starting life as Paris’s first children’s clothing house. Bonpoint’s creations have remained fresh and timely with designs for girls ranging from frilly party frocks to savvy mini trench coats and cool beatnik cigarette pants.

While you’re on Bleecker St, you may as well pop down to the corner for one of Suri’s favourite treats – a massive red velvet cupcake smothered in cream cheese icing from Magnolia Bakery.

Style for all ages

Now, it’s time to jump in a cab (or private car) and head south to SoHo to the flagship store for 3.1 Phillip Lim on Mercer Street. Kid by Phillip Lim offers versions of his adult line (loved by the likes of Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson) scaled down for smaller frames. Nothing has been skimped on in this collection – all pieces are made with the quality and attention of the full-sized version making it the perfect place for upmarket mummy and me dressing.

We all know no outfit is complete without shoes and Repetto is the French ballet shoe company responsible for shodding glamorous feet such as Sarah Jessica Parker and perhaps the less glamorous, but still well-shod, feet of Hilary Clinton. Their cultural and fashion significance would be zilch, however, if Brigitte Bardot hadn’t worn them in ‘And God Created Woman’ creating the ballet shoe craze in the 50s and cementing its place in style history. While notoriously difficult to find, these immaculately made flats provide stylish relief for grown and growing feet alike including high heels, of which there are many in Suri’s burgeoning collection.

Don’t forget tots tums!

Next, continue up town to Madison Avenue. I’d recommend taking 3rd Avenue so you can swing by Serendipity 3 for an ice cream before visiting some of the best boutique stores in New York City.

About now even the most dedicated shopper would be feeling hunger pangs. For lunch, why not stroll through Central Park over to 73rd Street and get a table at Alice’s Tea Cup. Katie and Suri often eat there and with the charming ‘Alice in Wonderland’ inspired interior and a menu offering high tea trays piled with scones, cakes and sandwiches – it’s not hard to see why.

This article originally appeared in Five Star Kids magazine. To subscribe to the latest issue, click here.