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Interview with Celebrity Designer: Liza Morales
Inspiring Individualism with Rich Soil Baby
By Rebecca Goldschmidt |
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What made you decide to start a children’s line? What is your inspiration behind the line?
 I know it sounds cliché, but I’m a mother of 2. I lost my 3rd child about 2 ½ years ago. That was the real motivation and inspiration. I was in a rut, and then, about six months later I was like, I need to find myself and find something that I love. I love children and I love fashion, so it was an easy thing to put together. From losing my child I have this passion that not everyone has. Everyone thinks they’re a designer, but this really comes from wanting something and finding that meaning.
What inspired the name, Rich Soil Baby?
My partner, Lamar, had a music company he was working on. One of the artists, coming from a rough neighborhood in Queens, had a song with a lyric saying he was coming out of “rich soil,” and how he developed out of that. When all the organic and bamboo came into play, it all kind of made sense.
What makes the clothes eco-friendly?
We use 100% organic cotton. Everything started coming out of China, and with the lead problems we thought we needed something different. We considered bamboo, but then we found out that it’s really not that good for the environment so we decided to do organic cotton. My green guru has his own line and he has everything manufactured in Tennessee, so everything’s made here in the US and we’re very proud of that. The inks are also all soy-based. We just got tested from a lead company to make sure that we’re lead-free, and we passed!
What is the significance of using the astrological images?
I guess we just wanted to do something different, I’m not a Zodiac fanatic, it’s just for fun. It’s something fun and inspirational for kids, to make these characters and bring out their personality.
What signs do you have in your family?
My daughter is a Leo, she’s very strong, and a my son is a Cancer; he definitely has his sensitive sign. I’m a Taurus.
Who or what is your greatest inspiration?
I definitely believe in giving back. I wasn’t by any means raised with a silver spoon and I’ve been blessed to do something with myself and be there for my family and friends, so I would definitely say continuing moving on this green train and giving something back to the community. I do what I can do; each person has to do their own thing I wouldn’t say one particular person, but Michelle Obama, when she visited the girls’ school in England, her speech was extremely heartfelt. She was incredibly inspiring. Just finding who you are and believe that women can do it all, that’s a great inspiration. I do what I can do; each person has to do their own thing. I wouldn’t say one particular person, but Michelle Obama, when she visited the girls’ school in England, her speech was extremely heartfelt. She was incredibly inspiring. Just finding who you are and believe that women can do it all, that’s a great inspiration.
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 What advice would you give to others trying to break into this industry?
Do your research. Everything right now, even when you go to the supermarket is organic, organic, organic, but you have to do your research and make sure you know what you’re talking about. And believe. Just believe you can do it. I didn’t go to school for fashion or anything like that, just have good people around you and you can do it.What are you doing with the line going forward?
In this economy we’re struggling, so we’re trying to figure out how to think outside the box, bring prices down and be more affordable and attainable, we’re trying to meet up with Target or Wal-Mart. I want to do couture dresses from organic cotton and I want to do more color—I love color!
What advice would you give to other parents?
I’m a firm believer, definitely, that sometimes things happen and you don’t know why they happen to you. I’m a good person, I do believe and I do have faith in a higher power, and if I hadn’t have lost, I would have still been trying to figure out what I wanted. By losing my son, I was motivated to do something. I knew I had to stay strong for my other children. If things happen and you don’t understand why they happen, try to stay positive. Have faith in yourself.
What’s the most important thing you’ve learned from being a mother?
As long as you raise your children with standards and values, that’s really all you can ask for. When they go out there in this world, you are responsible for their values. Raising human beings, it’s hard, it’s the hardest and most understated job out there, especially for single mothers, but it’s the most important job! I think a lot of our values have been lost, so as long as we get back, like shutting off the TV, limiting video games and getting back to family time, I think we’ll be ok and our children will grow into good adults.
Liza Morales is the creator of Rich Soil Baby. Her inspiration for the astrology-themed line of baby onesies and children’s tees came from raising her own children and watching their personalities rapidly develop at a young age. She sought to create clothing that would allow children to express their personalities before they could speak, and with Rich Soil Baby, she’s done just that. Rich Soil Baby’s top priorities are providing comfort and being eco-conscious; as a result, the tees and onesies are made of organic cotton that is soft on baby’s skin and machine washable. A soy-based, toxin-free ink is used in the graphic prints on the clothes. Additionally, the line is made in the USA.
Liza has two children with Los Angeles Laker Lamar Odom, daughter Destiny and son LJ. They lost their 7-month old son, Jayden, to sudden infant death syndrome in June 2006, and Rich Soil Baby was greatly inspired by him and launched in his honor. Prior to creating Rich Soil Baby, she attended John Jay College of Criminal Justice and Santa Monica College. She is originally from Woodhaven, New York. |
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Color Trends of Fall
Meredith Craig de Pietro |
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Quite symbolic of parent-offspring relationships, children’s color trends will often mimic what appears on their parent’s runways. Here’s a glimpse of Fall 2009 Color trends from our own Meredith Craig de Pietro, who visited Mercedes Benz FashionWeek in NYC. To help translate these trends to childrenswear, we’ve included some images to get your creative juices flowing…
“The Fall 2009 color palette is more unique and thoughtful than the typical autumnal hues of seasons past,” reports Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Institute. “Designers recognize the desire for fundamental basics that speak to current economic conditions, but also understand the need to incorporate vibrant color to grab the consumer’s eyes and entice them to buy.” What that means is that the runways were chock full of wearable neutrals that will last through many seasons, as well as shockingly vibrant colors that hope to surprise the shopper into opening their wallets.
 80s Brights/Colorblocking
There was no doubt that designers are pining for better economic times and the boom years of the ‘80s showed up again and again. Strong shoulders, acid washed jeans and graphic eye makeup all made an appearance. The easiest way to commit to this trend without going overboard is with the disorienting brights that many collections featured. Highlighter neon colors, in small doses, will add major impact to any outfit. Additionally, pairing a bright color with black looks fresh and keeps passerbys from needing to don sunglasses. Michael Kors showed this combination in a variety of neons, Marc Jacobs made a strong statement with pink and red, and Oscar de la Renta showed how elegant pink and black looks. Color blocking also showed up on the runways, with an unusually bright color palette. Isaac Mizrahi brightened the runway with an anorak dress. At the presentation for Graey, designer Janet Kim’s demonstrated her Proenza Schouler background with a color blocked patchwork dress.
Tinted Neutrals
Grays, browns and every shade of beige were represented on the Fall 2009 runways. Although not terribly exciting, they certainly represented the bleakness of our economic landscape. Carmen Marc Valvo was inspired by “the general mood of society.” And although the shades were stark, the richness of these neutrals was grounding in his and Reem Acra’s shows. Other designers like Tracy Reese and Charlotte Ronson used these beige colors as a background to make the bright colors pop. Coffee, rust, and charcoals were all represented in varying hues. These colors were subdued, yet extremely elegant and incredibly classic. This is a good season to buy all the basics that you’ll want to have for years to come.
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 Color of Money
Obviously, everyone is thinking of the bottom line this season. On the runways, designers showed us the money in every variation of green. Models stormed the catwalks in mint, absinthe, hunter, and olive greens. Christian Cota splashed one side of a day dress with greens and blues, while Isaac Mizrahi and Cynthia Steffe gave high fashion versions of an army jacket, and Behnaz Sarafpour even gave a great green option for evening.
Mellow Yellow
A great solution that grounds the brights and jazzes up the neutrals is a honey yellow that designers swooned over. To me, this color feels like a throwback to the ‘70s, which is both nostalgic and comforting. Designer James Coviello was influenced by the Arts & Crafts movement with his mixed prints. Nanette Lepore and Milly both sent out office appropriate mustard yellow garments, and Oscar de la Renta had an inspired puff-sleeved cocktail number that looked utterly fresh. This color is optimistic, yet staying realistic- a perfect philosophy for Fall 2009.
Images: Top to bottom, left to right 1. Halabaloo silk colorblock dress 2. Kate Quinn Organics Peter Pan dress 3. Kate Quinn Organics Military vest and pants 4. Dance with Me dress (http://www.peekarentyoucurious.com) |
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Fall Runway Trends
A Rocker’s Restraint Revved Up the Runways
Meredith Craig de Pietro |
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The fashion industry is certainly not immune to the global recession, with companies collapsing and designers struggling. At New York Fashion Week, spirits were kept high with McDonald’s coffee being handed out in the lobby and healthy snacks served backstage. The fashion industry addressed the recession in their collections, by doling out tons of classic pieces that could be bought and worn for years, thus making the initial investment a basement bargain. Simple separates stormed the runway in the form of cocoon coats, tailored trousers and an array of sweaters. Luckily for us, this didn’t mean a yawn-inducing fashion week. Unlike forecasting the Dow Jones, I can predict there will be enough new trends to make autumn shopping exciting for moms and their children alike.
 Patriotism
The rosy glow of hope surrounded fashion week behind the scenes and on the runway. The top color of the Fall 2009 season, according to Pantone, was “American Beauty”: a patriotic true red. With Michelle Obama championing many young American designers, it’s no surprise that fashionistas would woo her and her husband. Kimora Lee Simmons dedicated her entire Baby Phat/ KLS collection to Michelle Obama. Xuly Bet took this dedication one step further in the collection for the African Fashion Collective, in which she featured t-shirt dresses emblazoned with Obama’s face. Other designers were a little more abstract, showing flag prints, like Catherine Malandrino’s dress at the Barbie show, or simply flag inspired stripes like at Alexandre Herchcovitch.
Streamlined Shine
Although optimism was in the air, there’s no doubt that bling has gone the wayside along with private jets and magnums of champagne. Jewels, adornment and heavy embroideries were replaced by tailored metallics for day or evening. These ranged from subdued sparkly garments, like Abaete’s silver sequined sweater to the more ostentatious like Phillip Lim’s gold sequined jacket. There were many great options for night like a strapless metallic gown at Ralph Lauren. At Domenico Vacca’s show, there were many distractions (such as Academy Award nominated Mickey Rourke sitting front row) but I couldn’t look away from the slippery silvery metallic gowns. A must-have for Fall 2009, will definitely be the “little gold dress,” which came in an assortment of variations including minimal at Calvin Klein, goddess worthy at Derek Lam, tailored at Oscar de la Renta, or fearless at Zac Posen.
Images: Left to right, top to bottom 1. USA Champ jacket (www.peekarentyoucurious.com) 2. Flowers by Zoe Sequin dress 3. Flowers by Zoe Floral dress 4. Diaper Pirate pink dress.
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Graphic Prints
While there may not be the same level of embellishment and embroideries on the fabrics this season, there’s definitely a strong return to bold graphic prints. A strong turn towards a black and white motif was classic and work appropriate and came in a variation of print sizes. Examples were at Phillip Lim, Abaete, Derek Lam, Jason Wu and Diane von Furstenberg. Animal prints also were a surprise to me, and they looked edgy and classic at the same time. Diane von Furstenberg layered animal skins with leggings and wrap dresses, Oscar de la Renta gave a modernist take on a leopard, and Miss Sixty shrunk down the print and even presented a t-shirt with an illustration of a big cat. Also of interest at the Miss Sixty show, was a tattoo print that was used on denim, adding some excitement to an old standard.
Rocker Chicks
Fashion always has a cross over with rock n’ roll. This season the runways were filled with bad girl favorites like leather and lace. This was not your average Harley Davidson biker babe, but instead a little more girly. Think of “West Side Story” or “Grease”, for a powerful and strong look that also has a touch of sass. Leather was absolutely everywhere this season, from high waisted shorts at Phillip Lim, a belted dress at Derek Lam, a pleated skirt at Michael Kors, to loads of leather pants- some of the best at Diane von Furstenberg. And then there was the black lace. Unlike the gothic lace of past seasons, this variety has more of a romantic rocker edge. Panels of it were used for embellishment, for sleeves or overlays. In other cases, like at Jill Stuart, complete dresses were worn tied in a sweet bow.
embellishment, for sleeves or overlays. In other cases, like at Jill Stuart, complete dresses were worn tied in a sweet bow.
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Street Scene: Penelope Wildberry
Rebecca Goldschmidt |
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Have you ever wanted to tattoo your kid? You know, just hook them up with a smiley face or butterfly or even a heart with a “Mom” banner? Well with Penelope Wildberry, now’s your chance to make your kid look cool, at least semi-permanently.
The line of painted sheepskin booties emerged from a hybrid of two trends that have recently engulfed malls and mall-goers all over America—the tattoo-art-as-clothing wave first originated by Ed Hardy, and the slouchy, oh-so-comfortable Ugg boots. Rocker-chic imagery like hearts, skulls, and fleur de lis are sprayed onto the sheepskin via airbrush, creating a personalized and unique design.
The line is owned by Alisa and Stacy, who thought up the idea one day while shopping for merchandise for their own store. “We owned our own retail store and every time we went shopping for merchandise we thought, ‘We can do that, and we can do it better,’” explains Alisa. That day, her partner, Stacy, happened to be wearing a pair of sheepskin boots that her airbrush-artist husband had customized for her. “Everywhere we went people flocked to her feet,” the bright designs spicing up a seemingly inconspicuous boot. “The manager of the showroom came over and asked where she got her boots and said she wanted to represent our line. We got in the elevator and said to ourselves, “We need a line!”
Adam Sandler and P. Diddy already have their kids trotting around in them and other celebrities like Deborah Messing and Paris Hilton have been photographed with the boots.
After that, they hit the ground running, painting flames, peace signs, skulls, dragon flies and other classic tattoo imagery across the otherwise plain shoes. Eventually they branched out into kids sneakers and baby shoes and booties, emblazoning “Mom” and “Dad” respectively on each shoe, right and left. For kids they’re a cinch to pull on and off and for moms they’re easy, comfy and cool.
The celebrity clientele list is off the charts. Adam Sandler and P. Diddy already have their kids trotting around in them and other celebrities like Deborah Messing and Paris Hilton have been photographed with the boots. PW was also part of the style lounges at the Golden Globes and Sundance Film Festival, allowing celebrities to check out the booties before or after the shows. It makes sense that they’re so popular with the People Magazine set; with baby shoes starting at about $45, they are a bit pricey, but lend an undeniable cool factor to any outfit.
Kitson, Fred Segal, Lisa Klein and Neiman Marcus are a few of the stores in the United States that carry the booties. They’ve also hit the international market, with shoes sold in Japan, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, France, Belgium, Italy, Greece and Russia. Watch out for a children’s clothing line coming in the near future.
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Velvet & Tweed: Occasionwear for Every Occasion
Meredith Craig de Pietro |
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 Every week brings a new celebration in a child’s life, and with each flash of the camera, your child can be dressed accordingly. “Growing up is a special occasion,” says Tina Schreiber, designer of Velvet & Tweed. “Every day has the opportunity to be a lifelong memory: having a backyard tea party, going on a summer picnic, choosing Autumn pumpkins, even going to Grandmas…why not dress the part?”
With her line of classic and detailed occasionwear, Tina Schreiber gives classic choices to parents who want high quality garments that are seeped in tradition. As a designer for Sprockets for Mervyns, and Senior Designer for Janie and Jack, Schreiber “saw that the marketplace didn’t have a great selection of classic, traditional styles with modern touches for children,” so in January 2008, she decided to launch Velvet & Tweed.
“Every day has the opportunity to be a lifelong memory: having a backyard tea party, going on a summer picnic, choosing Autumn pumpkins, even going to Grandmas…why not dress the part?
A favorite for parents who appreciate design and good quality, like exquisite details, impeccable fabrics, and timeless styling, Velvet & Tweed is the antithesis of the tween inspired bedazzled tees and jeans trend. The quality of the clothing is apparent in pleating, full linings, and well-made fasteners. Smocked dresses, pinstriped suits, and polka dot patterns are staples in a collection that is nostalgic for a dressier time, without any of the petticoat stuffiness. While many collections are outsourced to other countries for affordability, Velvet & Tweed is designed and sewn in San Francisco offering amazing quality control.
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 For Spring, there are fun citrus colors mixed with white, flutter sleeves and tons of ruffles. The must haves for the season include a perfect pink silk stripe Easter dress for girls, and a charming linen pant with striped braces for boys. Inspiration for the line comes from Schreiber’s own childhood, which was filled with camping, fishing, sewing and baking. The clothes are dressy but allow for kids to run and play with abandon. “The collections are reminiscent of what we wore as children, what our parents wore,” she explains. “But with a modern touch that makes them anything but stuffy.” These garments are gorgeous enough to keep only for special occasions, but the kids will beg to wear them daily. Therefore, Velvet & Tweed is launching a new initiative this year that will offer full wardrobe choices of mix-and-matchable separates at a competitive price, so parents and grandparents can rely on the line for easy and complete options for the season.
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Hottest Swimwear for Summer
Jen Trent |
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Strolling beaches, wading in pools, lying in the sand, and relaxing in the warm weather are just some things we do in the summertime. Getting ready for the summer season and vacations can be a little hectic so here we are to help you choose the hottest swimwear for your children.
Animal Prints
 Fun and cool,you can never go wrong with leopard print! Leave it up to D&G Dolce and Gabbana to give us their characteristic animal print in a charming one piece for your baby ($75) or toddler girl ($85). She’ll be spotted a mile a way!
Brightened up zebra stripes? Sure! Shoshanna does it right with this tank styling swimsuit with cute ruffles at the legs. Pair it with the matching beach dress/cover up and you are definitely ready to hit the beach. Swimsuit, $70-80 and dress $110 for toddlers/little girls. For your older girl, a two-piece is available for $80 and the cover-up for $120.
Ruffles, Ruffles and More Ruffles
 If you are looking for an eye catching two-piece then this hot pink number will ruffle everyone’s cuteness feathers! The D&G Dolce and Gabbana Logato Bikini retails for $60.
Your little infant girl will surely be noticed in this winning ruffled top and bottom one piece suit by Juicy Couture, $60. The ruffle and rose detail is just as special as she is!
 Juicy Couture impresses us with this 1920s style maillot for little girls. The bottom ruffled skirt of this shirred halter top is what makes this one fun. $97 at http://www.saksfifthavenue.com.
 Classic
You can never go wrong dressing your boy in plaid swim trunks! Ralph Lauren has some plaid board short type trunks for your classic look, retailing $35 and $40.
Burberry Novacheck always denotes class. What more can I say? This one-piece is priced at $70-$80. For the growing girl who wants a two-piece, Burberry offers this for $95.
  
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Looking for only a little touch of plaid? This baby pink suit gives you just that in an exceptional delectable way. The Burberry paid piping, bow, and ruffles at the leg openings are the details we love, love, love! She’ll be styling and classy poolside for $85.
 These little boys’ simple “Hidden Gator” trunks are unique and fun. It only shows its gators when wet! You also have a choice of navy blue, white, and transatlantic blue for $55.
Red and blue colors and white printed stars definitely are classic for Americans. This charming halter top and boy-short bottom set salutes independence for your little girl for $14.50 at http://www.oldnavy.com.
Fun Prints
 Not going to Tahiti? Then let your boy take Tahiti to you! We adore this Vilebrequin Tahitian flower swim trunks for $145. These do not blow up. I repeat do not blow up, or “balloon” while in the water. Have daddy match in this tropical print too for $245. Trunks come with a waterproof pouch.
He’ll put these right on and feel one with the water. These shark print shorts are a great deal for $12.50 at Old Navy.
Is your boy logo conscious already? Then this will be the board short for him! Armani Junior’s bold logo print trunks have the print and the fit he is looking for, long and loose. Sold at http://www.saksfifthavenue.com for $98.
Gap has this fresh and trendy swimsuit for infant and toddler girls for only $19.50. Sweetly printed with sunflowers, this one-shoulder suit will delight! It also has a UPF of 50+ so you can be assured she is covered underneath the pretty print.
 Bold and exciting are what this bright floral halter one-piece by Gap says! Pretty bows and a wonderful color combination will surely have her standout at the beach. Like all its other swimwear, it protects your child with a UPF of 50+.
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