Shh.. Private Sale

As promised, this is the place to find deals. Here are the details on our site wide sale. Enjoy!

We accept your nomination!

I must admit, I spend so much time on the computer during the day, that I don't spend a lot of time on social networking at night. But one site has me hooked. DivineCaroline has a wide variety of topics and the format is so easy, and enjoyable to browse that I find myself spending more and more time reading articles and blogs. Afterward, I feel all warm and fuzzy and slightly more connected to this world.

So I was delighted to learn that we had been nominated for a "Love this Site" award. Sadly, however, we are such a hidden gem that we have 0 votes. So, I guess I had better try and get the word out.

If you love -well, let's just be realistic and make that LIKE, Montkid.com and would like to vote, go to DivineCaroline and sort the Awards for Style by Name. There in the "M" section, you will find little Montkid! Mom, can I least count on you? Thank you!

Roxy Girls Snow is in Stock!

Our Roxy Snow shipments are beginning to arrive!
The green polka dot Sparkle Coat from Roxy was one of the jackets we were most excited about. The fur hood on the Roxy Sparkle is removable so she can easily change up her look. The trend this year with girls outerwear is all about bright pops of color. Green and yellow are huge this year, but even basic black gets updated fuchsia lined hoods and trims.

One thing little girls love most about the Roxy Girls collection, is they take their styles and colors directly from the Juniors line so there is nothing "Preschool" about Roxy. And this year, Roxy has added size 4 to the line up, so your littlest one can get her Roxy fix.

Oh and by the way, I'm off to a Madonna concert and feeling horribly guilty and selfish about it, so let's have a special little sale while I'm away to make me (and you) feel better! Enter the coupon code: madonna at checkout for 15% savings on all regular priced merchandise. Sale ends Sunday Nov. 9th when I get back. Have fun!

Absolutely Fabulous

We've been talking pretty technical over the past few entries. Now, it's time to talk about our growing selection of absolutely fabulous children's outerwear.

Today, we just got in our Fluffy Fur Boots imported from Italy. Every season, we buy as many of these as we can, and every season, we sell out very quickly. And no, we don't carry them in your size - sorry!

So, I'm telling all of you who love all things highly impractical but absolutely adorable, SHOP TODAY!!

You would also do well to note that our model is sporting an equally fabulous pair of Baby Legs leg warmers in the Pink Jester pattern. At 5, I wouldn't call her a baby, but you will find them in Montkid's baby accessories category. Browse our complete selection of Baby Legs in polka dots, stripes, plaids and more!

Baby Outerwear

You wouldn’t think the simple act of taking a baby outside would be difficult. Generations of people before us have managed it! But, when you factor in cold or wind or rain or snow, you start to look at that tiny pink or blue bundle that relies on you for protection, and start to worry.

I have spent 8 years researching and testing baby clothing and baby outerwear trying to find the perfect set up for cold weather. I think I finally got it right with baby girl number four and in case you don’t want to go through the trial and error I did, some of what I learned may help you.

First of all, dress winter babies in about the same number of layers you are wearing. A newborn’s ability to regulate body temperature is not well developed so you need to pay special attention to how they are dressed. Layers are important. To avoid a big bulky set up that they scream in because they can’t move freely, spend a bit more and buy them what you are wearing. Whether you are a fan of capilene or wool, versions of these impressive heat retaining and heat regulating fabrics are available for baby. Take a look at Icebreaker or Patagonia. Also, pay special attention to hands, feet and head. The best baby socks we’ve found are the SmartWool baby socks. The socks stay on and are thick and comfortable along with being extremely warm. As the temperature drops, you should consider a hat (even when you are indoors) to keep babies bald-ish head warm. Of course, each and every child of mine learned the art of taking off their hats immediately so we had to invest in hats with chin ties.

OK, now that we’ve taken care of babies winter clothing, let’s talk about baby outerwear. I have found one piece snowsuits work best – there aren’t any gaps for cold or snow to penetrate. So many one piece snowsuits are so bulky, however, that baby can’t move or crawl. I love the Columbia down snowsuit for tiny, newborn babies because it is so warm but not bulky. If baby is going to be crawling in wet snow, however, this is not the best choice as it will get soaked. Once they are mobile and actively playing, look for waterproof or water resistant fabrics. Deux par Deux baby snowsuits and Reima baby snowsuits are both excellent choices for busy babies and toddlers. Baby winter footwear can be another source of trouble. Most baby booties aren’t warm enough to have baby go for an extended stroller ride let alone sit and play in the snow. Toddler boots are so stiff that babies can’t walk in them. We have found Molehill Mountain’s Baby Booties to be the best for both newborn babies and toddlers. When combined with Smartwool baby socks and their normal shoes, their feet stay dry and warm.

Baby hats should not only cover the ears, but also provide a double layer of protection over the ears and across the forehead. We love Deux par Deux baby hats because they are made from soft, warm materials, tie under the chin and are traffic stopping cute! For extremely cold weather, consider a baby balaclava like the Reima Balaclava to keep their delicate cheeks protected from frostbite. Mottled skin or pale cheeks may be a sign a baby is too cold.

Without a doubt, the hardest thing to figure out is baby mittens. I still have problems with this one! If your baby is still tiny and not using their hands, you can use the fold over cuffs on their snowsuit or bunting. The Molehill Mountain Infant mitten is thumbless and lined with a soft fleece which is great for an extra layer of protection. Anytime a finger or thumb is separated from the rest, it gets cold. The Columbia Chippewa mitten is great because of the zippered wrist making it easy to get on and off. Reima is also a top choice for baby and toddler mittens. Both of these are insulated and feature a weather resistant shell. However, I have yet to pull a mitten off a baby hand and have it be warm! I will let you know when that happens!

A Blanket of Snow

We knew it was coming. Last night, the sky looked gray and the temperature dropped. The first snow in Bozeman is always a wake up call. We can hear on the news that a storm is coming, but for some reason we refuse to believe it, or do anything about it, until the absolute last minute. I scurried around this morning trying to find jackets, hats, and gloves for my girls to wear to school this morning. I took a quick mental inventory of what still fits from last year, vs. what do we need - like today! Even, though I'm the owner of a kids outerwear store, I still kind of panic about what is going to be best for each of them and get them through an entire season. The older girls have decided on the Bogner Sofia. I was kind of surprised they chose something so elegant. The matching mom jacket is on FrontCountry.com!



Cambelle, who is 4 and tiny, needs something down to keep her warm without being bulky. We are looking at the Spyder Bitsy Duffy Coat in beautiful rainbow colors (Since she wants her room painted in rainbow, she should be happy!) This jacket does not have a matching option for mom.


And finally, for the baby! Seeley is 15 months and still not walking, so she needs something she can really move in. If we put her in something she doesn't like, she just stays frozen in one spot. Literally frozen! Her arms don't even move. All we can see is a very unhappy face. Last year, we used the Columbia Down Bunting, which was great! She was toasty warm. But, I don't think it will be durable enough this year. I'm considering the Reima Appalachians. It has a tough outer shell but it is not stiff. I'd better decide quickly! It's been snowing now for almost 12 hours.

Kids Clothing Trends - It's Back! 80's Inspired Colors Rule

The best part of our recent photo shoot was the opportunity to have so many children expressing their individual and collective views about the clothing & outerwear they were modeling. It gave us a feeling of which trends were going to stick and which might be around for only a few months. The biggest news of the fall/winter 2008 season is the return of the 80's. You are going to see 80's inspired neon colors and prints hit big time - even from conservative Patagonia! If you think you're ready to revisit the era of big hair and wild colors, check out the kid's clothing and kid's outerwear at montkid.com.

Photo Shoot Wrap Up

Well, the photo shoot turned out to be a pretty major project! 18 models and 50+ outfits. But, we are beyond pleased with the results! Here is one sample picture (gotta give my photographer Alicia Caine her props) of my baby. We put together so many great outfits and we are eager to get them online so we can show them off!

What Outerwear I am Coveting For My 1 Year Old

Fall in Montana is a fickle time of year. The mornings start out in the 30's and by noon we're up to 80 degrees. It is my favorite season, but dressing kids appropriately is a major challenge. I hate to bundle my baby up in a snowsuit for the short ride to town, but I don't think her Patagonia Synchilla cardigan is warm enough.

This year, Patagonia has introduced the Baby Down Sweater. It has been wildly popular with adults the past few years and I guess they listened to enough parents and decided to create one for babies. It is thin and lightweight so babies can still move while they are wearing it, or parents can bunch it up in a pocket of their diaper bag. Perfect!

Getting Ready for Our Photo Shoot

I am so excited to announce that we will be creating a whole new look for Montkid.com this season. We are getting ready for our first major photo shoot this Friday. It is so challenging to come up with head to toe outfits. We could take the easy way out and dress our models all in one brand - which is cute, but not very inspiring. We are working a lot with layers, colors and textures by mixing and matching brands. Hats, like the Deux par Deux Demoiselle, have been great as they tie everything together. We are so excited by the results of our efforts and can't wait to share them with you!

The best part for our customers is that we have gone through the pain (pleasure for us!) of coordinating a range of fun outfits. As the final product, we'll create a Look Book (kind of like a mini magazine). It will show the pieces used in each photo and of course feature an option to purchase each item separately or just buy the whole look! Check back next week for some sneak peaks!

Ski season around here (Bozeman, Montana) is highly anticipated. I remember my first ski outfit very well. Purple ski coat, purple fleece headband and purple gloves to match my purple skis and purple poles. The horror of such coordinated outerwear still makes me shiver. None the less, I have become one of those mothers in search of the perfect girls outerwear outfit for each of my four daughters. It didn't start off as an intentional strategy. It just sort of happened last year when I put my daughters in matching ski outfits from Roxy, one black zebra and the other pink zebra. The number of people who stopped to smile, point from the chair lift, or cruise past them shouting praises brought me more joy than I can possibly describe. I am well aware it's silly and until now, I haven't admitted this outerwear addiction to anyone, but it is pretty helpful given my line of work. I am always looking for the next great outfit from the top kids outerwear brands like Spyder, Columbia & Patagonia and European ski wear brands Bogner, Deux Par Deux and Reima.

Don't forget the montkid.com coupon for 30% off all regularly priced items. Enter the coupon code: savebig at checkout.

Thank you,
Christy

Welcome to Montkid.com

Ok... The first post is a little overwhelming. I am way out of my comfort zone, but I have had lots of people telling me I should start a blog. I'm not even sure I like the word blog, but I love the concept.

The Introduction:
I have two jobs. My first is as "momma" to 4 little girls (Ella, Ashlynn, Cambelle & Seeley). My second job is the owner of Montkid, a children's boutique located in Bozeman, Montana that specializes in superior quality and fabulously fashionable outerwear and outdoor inspired clothing from brands like Bogner, Deux Par Deux, Patagonia, Spyder, Quiksilver/Roxy, Columbia and more!

The purpose of this blog will be to reward my loyal, faithful customers with first glimpses of new products, trend reports, and coupons! As a reward for those of you who were passionate enough about kids outerwear to find this blog and actually read it through to the end, I will announce our first coupon. The first coupon is for 30% off any regularly priced item (Regularly priced means it's new inventory by the way!). Go to www.montkid.com and use the coupon code: savebig at checkout! Offer expires Sunday, Sept. 14th at midnight.

Thank you for your time!
Christy