Tickled by Tea
I've known about Tea Collection for a while (I still regret that I never got around to purchasing from their Korea collection a while back), but it wasn't until recently that I had a chance to see their products. And while the clothes are really lovely out of the box, they move to the realm of tremendously awesome once placed on real little bodies. I recently had the opportunity to style some pieces from Tea's fall collection and was struck not only by the quality and design, but by the ability to create really cute coordinated (but not overly matchy match) sibling outfits (read: perfect for family photos or general everyday cuteness). Read on to check out the coordinated outfits I assembled, as well as to learn how to be one of three winners to receive a $100 Tea gift certificate!
I first must say that I utterly adore Tea's use of vivid, rich colors. To date, Laurel has worn a lot of classic pink and purple, and while cute, seeing her (and Violet) in deeper hues is just so delicious. And the clothes are beautifully (and sturdily) constructed -- they'll definitely stand up to repeated wear both in the now and as hand me downs. Here are three coordinated looks I put together for the girls:
1. Still Feels Like Summer Dresses
I loved the look of these dresses together, even though they're not the same colorways. Laurel's Bird of Paradise dress dress is light, airy, and striking in pattern and color. This dress is cute for everyday wear but also is easily fancied up with costume jewelry, such as the multi-strand faux pearl necklace that was passed down to Laurel from her great-grandmother. For baby clothes, I much prefer comfy, stretchy jersey knits over stiff cottons, and Violet's Marimba Mini dress is the perfect weight and snuggliness -- both for rolling around on the floor and, well, absorbing baby slobber.
2. Back to School Cool
As I was laying out these looks, I kept saying to myself, "I wish I had this in grownup size!" In particular, I adore Laurel's comfy and stylish Skinny French Terry cargoes. They're like leggings in that they're pull-on with no zippers or buttons, but they're a more substantial weight -- perfect for fall. The cargoes look really cute paired with the vividness of the Mexican inspired secret garden top. This top looked really big out of the package but hung beautifully; the embroidery is so pretty and Laurel loved the girliness of the flutter sleeves. For contrast, we added an inexpensive necklace we found at a consignment store in Somerville. Violet is wearing the Hacienda Stripe dress. Like the Marimba Mini, the material is cozy and comfortable and I love that the indigo matches Laurel's pants while the pink pocket liners match Laurel's shirt. Also, this baby dress comes with bloomers. Cuteness.
3. We Love Leggings
For grownups or kids, leggings and a comfy top/dress are an easy, stylish, and comfortable go-to. Here Laurel is wearing the Courtyard Tile Dress (which again, looked really big out of the package but hung beautifully) and the Skinny Stretch Leggings in radish + a chunky colorful necklace we picked up for $5 from a street vendor in New York; both pieces added a nice color pop against the dress. Violet is wearing her own Gap leggings + this adorable Mistica parajito tee. I love the graphic and the ruffle details and the weight is soft and comfortable. I can't wait until it comes out of the wash (again)!
4. Bonus Pick
There are many swoon-worthy items at Tea (including clothing for boys and women), but I wanted to shout out one of Laurel's favorites: the Jardin Azul Maxi Dress. She'll get a lot of wear out of it in the remaining weeks of summer and I suspect into fall as well, paired with a cardigan and leggings once the temperature drops.
Aren't these clothes gorgeous? I'm in love and can't wait to shop when the girls grow a size (or maybe I'll just troll the sale section and stock up for the future)! Now, on to the the giveaway. The folks at Tea Collection have generously offered three lucky winners each a $100 Tea gift certificate. Awesome, no? Check out the rules below and enter to win!
THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED
Congrats to winners Karen, Arin, and Kim!
+ + + + +
Rules:
*Three lucky winners (selected using Random.org) will receive a $100 Tea gift certificate. Sweet!