Oh to be a kid again. There are so many cool toys out there it takes everything in my power not to buy things for Tallulah that she won’t be able or want to use for another 10 years. Take for example Style Lab’s Jewelry Designer. This game is perfect for jewelry designer moms like me who want their little girls to follow in their footsteps. The video game for Nintendo DS lets tweens virtually design their own jewelry. The wee little players can even upload their finished jewelry designs online and purchase and sell actual products that were designed using the game. How cute is that? Not only are they getting to experiment with designing jewelry they are also learning entrepreneurial skills to boot.
Another fashion forward toy that recently came across my desk is Harumika. I was lucky enough to get my hands on the Style Starter Set from Bandai and was pretty dang excited about it. Without any sewing, cutting or gluing girls can create their own fun fashion designs. The kit comes with 3 rolls of fabric that lock into place on a little dress form with the help of a stylus. There are also cute accessories like lace trims and belts with heart shaped buckles to incorporate into the endless outfit options. The starter set comes in 4 themes: Wild One, I Heart Harumika, Precious Petal and Bohemian. The looks and styles are actually very on point with what is trendy and hip in the actual fashion world. My favorite part is that once the designs are finished girls are invited to upload pictures to the Harumika website and create their own look books, host virtual fashion shows and run their own little boutique. Again I am loving the trend of not only encouraging girls to be creative but to also help them grow into business women.
This week on Naughty Secretary Club we are giving away a Harumika Starter Kit to one lucky winner. You have one week to leave a comment letting me know your favorite fashion themed toys of today or yesterday. Did you love Fashion Plates back in the 80’s? Does your little girl already have a Harumika Runway Showstopper Set and adore it? Give me the goods and some lucky little (or big) girl will score themselves one super fun, super interactive and of course super fashionable toy. I’m keeping my Precious Petal set for Tallulah, I only have to wait 5.5 years to give it to her!
I would have loved to have these as a kid!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite fashion themed toy growing up was a mini-light table and stencil set. The kit came with tracing paper and what I remember as thousands of templates to mix and match different clothing and accessories which you would then trace. Another set had rub on stencils and a crayon tool to imprint different plates that could also be mixed and matched to create new fashion designs.
ReplyDeleteMy big sis Erica and I used these tools to create our own versions of Vogue to read. I truly believe this is what sparked my love of sewing - and eventually led me to make my own zine. My daughter is only 11 weeks old but I cannot wait to build these skills with her as well!
I am sure Tallulah will love growing up in such a creative household! I credit my mom for teaching us to sew, crochet and cross stitch at a young age, there isn't anything we cannot accomplish now!
I loved fashion plates. I used to make my own paper dolls.
ReplyDeleteI also learned to knit when I was 5 yo. my mother taught me. And I was fortunate enough to have an aunt who was a professional seamstress. I didn't have a sewing maching until I was 9, but I would take her scraps and hand stitch doll clothes.
I also used air dry clay to make acessories and doll furniture.
I had one of those mini sewing machines and that was pretty awesome. Always wanted one of those bedazzlers too.
ReplyDeleteI had barbie stencils! It was a 3 part stencil, one would be her body and head, the other would be her dress/pants/shirt and then the other would be the details. It was so much fun! I also had a Steve Urkerl one!
ReplyDeleteWell, I think my favorite toy as a kid was my Barbie dreamhouse. It was a "penthouse" with an elevator and chandelier.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if it was an official Barbie brand or if it was a dollhouse that my mom fixed up for me but I loved it. My mom used to make clothes for my barbies with her sewing machinne and I used to have so much fun with that house!
I love your blog, and it is so inspiring. Thanks so much!
Jennifer, this is totally freaky. I just had a dream last night where you found a vintage fashion plate and gave it to me. You were like, "Tina, I know you loved these as a kid". This was BEFORE I read this blog entry!!!!
ReplyDeleteI LOVED those fashion plates- played hours & hours with them! i also had something just like those but they were to make greeting cards. My Dad made me a huge dollhouse & i spent years being the main interior designer on site! These 3 toys led me to a BA in fine art & an etsy store!
ReplyDelete~misschell/chinamommy
These are so amazing, I would still play them even now! But how I wouldve loved this so much as a child.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite fashion themed toy was paper dolls. I loved to dress them and would even create my own "outfits" (they looked more like misfits). My 8 year old daughter, though, like Bratz dolls (I'm not a fan) because of their high style fashion clothes.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance to win....Olivia would be delighted to have the Harumika. We see the commercial all the time on Nickelodeon.
patnrosemary@hotmail.com
what I can say about this post it is really awesome
ReplyDeleteplease share a post about shoes or long boots and fashion
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ReplyDeleteFly London Shoes