Classic girls' clothes - where??!!

[MarmMummy]

Dressing my little boy in 'normal' clothes seems to have been a relatively straightforward task, but can't seem to find anything much I like for my DD aged 16 months.

So, wise MNers. Where can you buy nice straightforward clothes, that don't cost the earth??

Like pinafore dresses, bodies with collars, plain cord trousers..... basically anything which isn't bubblegum pink and covered in sequins or logos.

Thanks!!!!

(awaiting replies with bated breath and credit card at the ready )

john lewis is quite nice (dont have much online though) zara is good for toddlers, hennes have some ok stuff but you have to really look for it. verbaudet also some nice stuff.
for special/nicer things this shop is good www.justdresses.co.uk/ but it is more expensive.

H&M often do one style of body with a collar each season. I am always checking to see if they have any more as I love them too. At the moment they have some bodies with peter pan collars in white, pink and purple. I found some really sweet gingham shirts in the summer too so def worth a look from time to time. Cheap too!

Jojomamanbebe do plainish pinafores and I noticed that babygap have a nice cord one in at the moment - but it is pink, albeit a nice cerise colour.

Actually, have just looked - jojo have quite a lot of fairly classic stuff in at the mo - and not all pink! Although it would be nice to be able to buy a girl's pinafore in, say, red, eh?

Thanks, will hunt through Hennes - I have managed to get her the odd thing from there before - including a red gingham shirt dairymoo!

And am long overdue a trip to Zara!

Any other thoughts anyone??

Rachel Riley. Costs a blardy fortune though!

I love it

Vertbaudet?

Second John Lewis for classic clothes, although have only got a boy. They manage to avoid "Pale blue with cars on" so they might also manage to avoid "Pink with sequins". Much more in store than online.

Got a red cord pinafore dress and matching body with Peter Pan collar, for friend's daughter in Asda about a year ago,

largeginandtonic (can't type that without wanting one! ).........that's exactly what I was after!!!!

Scarily expensive though - out of my budget for day to day stuff by a long way!

Might have to get the 'bonnet' though, would suit my DD's slightly Victorian looks!!

I am always trying to find the kind of clothes described by the OP. I was in Zara a few days ago and they have some lovely things for toddler girls. But I was really disappointed with the range for above 2 years. It was all a bit "cheap" looking.

Mine are all in T-bar shoes and bloomers

Her sales are fantastic. Aztec used tobe fabulous too but the lovely lady has had twins and stopped trading.

Keep your eye out for bits on ebay.

Cath Kidston here aslo has some lovely pieces and not too £££

Tartine et Chocolat (South Moulton Street) - if you feel like taking out a mortgage. Or Cyrillus (French BCBG catalogue, actually I think its owned by La Redoute now).

I think Kent and Carey do lovely clothes - think only in London, but probably have a website - they also do fab end of season sales at Chelsea Town Hall - worth a trip up to London for! I'm still trying to get my 8 year old DD in smocked dresses - ha ha ha

Mini Mode BOOTS has some really nice girl clothes in this season. Definately worth a look .

You can often get good basics in Gap. DD has a lovely plain dark denim pinafore from there (smock-shaped with wide straps and two plain large buttons, much smarter than denim would suggest and very classic-looking). They also tend to have good quality plain cord trousers in the winter. DD has two pairs, navy and red; they may possibly have been intended for boys but look lovely on her. They are also one of the few high street shops where you can totally avoid bubblegum pink!

I really covet those Rachel Riley things. They are absolutely gorgeous. Are their sales any good?

Oh sorry, largeginandtonic said the sales were good already. I am so going to buy things the second the sales begin!

Agree about Gap - they do tend to stay away from that terrible trashy shade of pink... (btw, I am a big fan of pink, but just not that particular sort of pink...)
Liking some of that mini mode stuff.
If money was no object, I would go for Bon Point every time !

Tulipand nettle are also gorgeous.

I am loving Kent and Carey too!

If only I could afford Rachel Riley.

I have found similar in Zara, JoJo and bought some very sweet cotton blouses with Peter Pan collars from M&Co this Summer, for a fiver!!!

Startrite do a Classic Shoe collection with similar styles to Rachel Riley and much cheaper!!

Mini Mode Boots are very nice - good idea Hilda!

I also like the online store tulip and nettle for one or two quirky cute handmade dresses... I think that they are on end of sale mode though so not at their best right now iyswim but her is the link anyway...

www.tulipandnettle.com/live/catalogue.asp?filter=clothes&catid=3

Tulip and Nettle are lovely lovely lovely. And not bad for grown up clothes, either.

La Redoute sometimes were good in my day - and I can't believe no one's said Boden! Their babies' stuff is lovely afair.
(Disclaimer: my youngest is 8).

What about Little White Company?

My MIL also sends me things from Jacadi, although not sure you can get it in the UK? It is very classic...but also quite expensive!

has anybody mentioned Mini Mode's Molly & Jack range ?