Holiday Shopping for the Little Ones

While editing the children’s holiday gift guide, ‘For Those Lucky Tykes”, I hit the pavement in New York looking for new shops and inspired kiddie gifts. Below, some favorite brick-and-mortar gems (and websites, too!) discovered along the way:

How sweet it is to find this adorable children’s shop nestled in Nolita, opened by former Cookie market editor Bronagh Staley last month. The pair of Sweet William stores (the first hit Brooklyn in 2007) is ground zero for independent, hard to find children’s wear labels like Bobo Choses, Barhrt, Popupshop and Talc. “We think our commitment to smaller and socially responsible brands is what has made our Brooklyn store so popular, and we believe Manhattanites will welcome us as well,” says Staley.

Stella McCartney’s Meatpacking District store recently unveiled a kids’ corner for McCartney’s new collection of children’s wear. Tucked into the center of the shop, the area is filled with miniature Stella McCartney dresses for her and electric blue corduroy trousers for him. Sizes range from newborn to 12 years, and the lineup will be available in 200 countries. According to Stella, the first collection is meant to “include basic pieces that are comfortable and that address a child’s needs without sacrificing the fun.

One of the only children’s stores in New York’s Chelsea neighborhood, My Little Sunshine is a one-stop shop for tiny tots. Here your little ones can shop for a new wardrobe while picking up a few toys and popping over for a haircut in one of the store’s airplane seats. Opened by 4 friends (Natalia and Robert Plotkin and Tara and Danny Figotin), the store is currently focusing on ages newborn to 6-years-old with brands like Jelly Cats, Imps and Elfs, Oeufs and Right Bank Baby.