North West, daughter of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, just landed her first magazine cover.
On the February 2019 issue of WWD Beauty Inc., five-year-old West flashes a peace sign as she flaunts bright pink eyeliner along with her pigtails. Already filling her parents’ well-heeled celebrity shoes, West is set to be a very visible symbol of Gen Alpha, the “generation that is highly connected, engaged with fashion and beauty and individualistic style,” according to WWD. These kids are the first generation born entirely within the 21st century (technically counted from 2010-2015), and a group the fashion industry has firmly in its sights.
So whether they’re flaunting Little Marc Jacobs or Moncler Enfant, Balenciaga Kids or Sophia Webster Mini, scaled-down versions of shirts, jackets, and shoes from some of the world’s finest labels are turning tots into fierce fashionistas.
Gucci Children’s Collection
Vibrant colours, twinkling embellishments, whimsical patterns—they’re all stitched into the Gucci Kids wardrobe. Under Alessandro Michele’s creative brilliance, the high-spirited childrenswear line features crepon dresses inspired by lavish gardens, bombers decorated with shooting stars, and even jacket designs pulled straight from the Italian fashion house’s historic archives. Espousing the same love of eccentrics prints and cool motifs as the runway collections shown in Milan, you can bet that you and your mini-me are set to impress.
Balmain Kidswear
Is your offspring ready to join the ranks of the #BalmainArmy? The French fashion house’s childrenswear range sees some of the brands most iconic styles—from double-breasted blazers to sweater dresses adorned with the Balmain medallion—made mini by creative director Olivier Rousteing. Playdates never looked so good.
Baby Dior
Understanding children is surely second nature to mother-of-four, Cordelia de Castellane, creative director of Baby Dior. Her carefully curated collections of poetic pieces are inspired by her childhood in Paris. For boys, cotton sweatshirts, wool cloth joggers, and jacquard coats are available. For girls, there are beautiful silk chiffon dresses, cotton poplin onesies, and metallic gabardine jackets. Dior recently enlisted American artist Kaws to revisit one of the brand’s historical emblems, the bee, which now features both on Kim Jones’ Dior menswear line and on the Baby Dior Boy Capsule, too. Adorable and fashion-forward.
Bonpoint
To add a French touch to your child’s wardrobe, head to South Granville where you’ll find the very first Bonpoint boutique in Canada. The Paris-based children’s luxury fashion retailer, founded in 1975, offers upscale clothes and accessories from footwear to sunglasses, and is about to be super on-trend: the Duchess of Sussex herself, Meghan Markle, was recently spotted shopping at the New York outlet for her soon-to-be royal baby. Ooh la la!
Stefano Ricci Junior
The latest SR Junior collection takes inspiration from the Italian brand’s Spring/Summer 2019 season, “The Man and the Sea.” Entirely handmade in Florence, the mini-me collection honours the classical tailoring and timeless double-breasted jackets for which the brand is known. Silk textiles from the legendary Antico Setificio Fiorentino mill ensure well-dressed small fry are also cozy and sleek. To find a father/son suited up combo in Vancouver, head to the Stefano Ricci boutique on West Georgia.
Get ready world, Generation Alpha is set to become the most fashion-conscious group of children to date.
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