BabyStyle: Break the mold, not the bank

So you probably knew that BabyStyle was the place to go if you were looking for a hot new diaper bag or a cutting-edge stroller, and you probably knew that it was a great place to find designer duds for both mom and baby.  But did you know that BabyStyle, itself, is responsible for some of the most adorably hip clothes on their site?  The Los Angeles-based  boutique is proud to count many of our favorite celebrity moms as loyal fans, including Halle Berry, Mariska Hargitay, Brooke Burke and Christina Aguilera.  Having sampled their new summer 2008 line, we’ve become big fans of the brand, ourselves.  The clothes are edgy and fun, well-made and durable — all at a price you can afford.

The puckered plaid cargo short for boys ($32; shown at left) is single-handedly revamping our 4-year-old’s wardrobe.  He’s dressed this up with a polo and leather sandals, and he’s dressed it down with BabyStyle’s baseball tee ($14 each) and Converse sneakers.  The 100% cotton fabric used with the puckered plaid cargo short is incredibly soft with a broken-in appearance, and there are so many colors in play that you can pair it with virtually any top.  The knee-length hem is the epitome of cool, it strikes me as a cross between a clam digger and a bermuda short, while the elastic waistband ensures a comfy fit.  The baseball tee we paired the shorts with is made with BabyStyle’s softest cotton, which besides being aptly-named (seriously the softest tee I’ve ever felt in my life!) comes pre-washed.  The baseball tee is available in a variety of color combinations and is the perfect tee to stock up on for summer. 

The trooper terry hoodie ($36; shown at right) is a great top layer for cool summer nights.  The ivory cotton is sweet and cozy but it’s broken up nicely by army green contrast stitching and trim.  The interior of the hoodie is lined in a camouflage print that coordinates with BabyStyle’s ripstop camo jam ($32).  Speaking of, the short is roughly the same length as the plaid cargo short and also comes with a cargo pocket.  But this cargo pocket has the added draw of a mini-pocket on top, perfect for hauling quarters to and from the arcade! 

We also sampled BabyStyle’s puzzle camo boardshort (on sale for $22.40; shown at left) which comes in pleasing shades of gray, turquoise and orange — the latter of which seems to be everywhere this season on boy apparel.  A faux-drawstring helps keep up the boardshort appearance, and the cargo pocket stashes a seashell or two.  Made of cotton and spandex, turn the puzzle camo boardshort inside out for washing on cold cycle, and tumble dry on low.  I love that the boardshort is busy (which really does come in handy if you’ve lost sight of your little one at the pool or beach — you need something eye-catching to spot them!) and it’s a refreshing change from the floral/hawaiian boardshorts that have become so commonplace for boys in recent years. If you need a little something for covering up, it pairs beautifully with the rocker tee ($24; shown at intro of review).  The faux-layers and skull and bones design give it a cool skater vibe, but because the shirt isn’t actually layered, it’s incredibly light weight.

To purchase these styles, or any of BabyStyle’s numerous other wardrobe items for boys and girls, click here or call 1-877-378-9537.