I know, it’s still the middle of winter, much of the country is covered in a blanket of snow, and it’s 50 below in Minneapolis, but I can’t help it, I’ve been thinking about springtime rain boots for kids. In a month or two, the weather will warm up, the snow will be gone, and there will be more puddles than you can shake a soggy stick at. So, you’ll need rain boots, right? And since everything is done online, shopping for children’s clothes is no longer a chore.

In fact, a quick trip to Macy’s kid shoes department website shows that I’m behind the times. Simple rainboots have been replaced by thematic rain ensembles, which to my mind, means more fun in the outdoors.

For example, I especially love this Fairy Collection set, with rain boots, umbrella, and slicker from Kidorable . In green, it is too cute for words, and is exactly the sort of thing that most little girls will love to death. Look at it! Even the clothes hanger is super cute!

For the boys, also from Kidorable, here’s everything needed for a dragon-slaying knight, rain boots, rain coat, backpack/shield and umbrella (check out the handle on that
brolly!)

And if that doesn’t do the trick, there’s also a fireman, and a butterfly, and a ballerina. Puddle jumping just got a whole lot more fun.

Dear Daughter,

I bought you an outfit that I thought would look cute.

It was a three piece Calvin Klein, with jeans, a shirt, and a soft, furry vest.

I squealed upon seeing the furry vest, as it seems I have a weakness for children wearing fuzzy things.  Your grandmother had bought you a different outfit with a similar vest, and people could not get enough of you in it.

So the other night when we went to the baseball game, I thought the weather was perfect for your CK ensemble, as you’d never worn it before.  It was the perfect combination of semi-warm but not too warm, and I lovingly tucked your jeans into your adorable furry little boots that matched your vest perfectly.

I thought nothing of your outfit until I saw you walking with your dad about twenty feet away from me.  That distance gave me an entirely new perspective.

Your jeans had detailing on the back pockets I hadn’t noticed before, which made me uncomfortable. And they definitely qualified as “skinny” jeans. The vest looked chic, but a little too grownup for an 18 month old.  And the worst was your boots, which looked more like Uggs than anything else.  Good lord, they weren’t supposed to look like Uggs! How did I not see the resemblance? 

And Calvin Klein? What the hell was I thinking?  They are the ones who famously stood between a teen Brooke Shields and er, nothing. 

I solemnly promise on my Complete Works of Shakespeare never to dress you like a college sorority girl again.

Until maybe you are one, but that’s at least a good eighteen years away.

Love,

Mom

So all the talk of espadrilles on the boss’ blog got me to thinking.  What’s out there for girls in an espadrille?

Well, these cute things, for one. From Spanish shoemaker Cienta, and I lurve the gingham detail.

These are from Old Navy, and much less pricey, to be sure.

Recently I came across Jack and Lily shoes at a retail store, and I have to say, I really like them.   The “Original” designs are a bit like Robeez, but seemingly better made.  The “My Shoes” line for infants and toddlers is also uber-cute.  They are similar in price to Robeez, made in Canada, and as a big bonus, are machine washable.  Here are a few of my favorites…

*I was given no compensation for this review. I shelled out my own dough for these shoes.

Have you ever been just going along, thinking your life is pretty A-OK when blam! Something or someone or a combination of  somethings and someones happen to throw off your mojo?  Well, today that is me, and what can I say, I’m a bit verklempt.  And damn it, I can’t blame post-partum mood swings because after five months, those should pretty much be gone, right?

So, as a distraction, I went looking at some spring/summer shoes for the young ladies, and found some that lightened my mood a bit.  Ahhh, shoe therapy always works, doesn’t it?

Camper Kids – 80181

Stuart Weitzman Kids – St. Tropez (Youth) (Fuchsia) – Footwear

Manolo says, our friend Glinda has been prevented from posting for the few days by the computer explosion (at least that was how it was described to the Manolo), and so the Manolo has deigned to come down from his exalted publisher perch at the top of the Manolosphere corporate pyramid to lend the hand at the Teeny Manolo.

And the best way the Manolo can lend the hand is by suggesting summery shoes for your little peoples, and the Manolo can think of few better summery little people shoes than the Salt Water Sandals from Hoy.

Here is the Original Salt Water Sandal in the superty cuteity fuscia color for your girl.

And for your boy…

The muy macho Surfer Salt Water Sandal in the very masculine navy color.

The best thing about these sandals, aside from their very cuteness, is that they are completely waterproof, meaning that your hand-in-hand stroll on the beach will not ruin them.

Why so smug, Katie Holmes?

Yes, I know I just put a picture up of these two, but this one is prompting an entirely different reaction in me.

Are those really heels I am seeing on that three year old?  Peep-toe pumps?

Perhaps these are just the very rich person version of dress up shoes, but I’m not so sure.  All the dress up shoes I am familiar with for little girls wouldn’t last longer than a minute on concrete.

So, let us just hope that these shoes were a very transient thing in young Suri’s life, that she took them off as soon as she got into the car/hotel.  And that this will not spark some sort of crazy high heel trend for the preschool set.

Because as much as we love our heels around here in the Manolosphere, I think we can all pretty much agree that heels on a three year old is just wrong.

This is formerly wholesome teen star Miley Cyrus on the “green” carpet before the Teen Choice Awards. Not exactly the outfit I would have hoped for.

This is an even less wholesome Miley Cyrus performing on the Teen Choice Awards. It has been claimed that it technically isn’t a stripper pole because it is on top of an ice cream cart, but since when did ice cream carts have poles on them? Semantics, says I.

Remember when everyone thought this was bad?