Below you will find a selection of stunning embroidered Cinderella inspired dresses for the occasion : hand made, high quality, elegant and refined, they are sure to make your child stand out and create timeless memories.
Katie, an expert travel advisor who specializes in planning Disney Destinations, will also share her tips and advice on how to make the most of this dining experience and reply to the most frequently asked questions!
We will share a few facts on the positive influence of Disney on children and last but not least present some of our favourite Cinderella quotes to use as captions for your Instagram post and reels!
“A dream is a wish your heart makes when you are fast asleep. Have faith in your dreams and someday your rainbow will come shining through” said Cinderella.
To make your princess’ fairytale wish come true, order the magical dresses below by sending an email to info@charlottesydimby.com
We recommend contacting us at least one month in advance. Please note that fabrics may be subject to change.
Stay tuned as we will also be releasing new Disney princesses dresses in the coming months.
THE GLASS SLIPPER CINDERELLA DRESS
Featuring Cinderella’s iconic silver glass upon a precious cushion, this soft blue princess dress is an absolute gem. The embroidery, handmade using traditional craftsmanship techniques, looks almost painted upon the chest.
Made of fancy sheer organza adorned with sequins, the design has a truly whimsical feel. The frilled collar and delicate puffed sleeves gathered at the cuff for extra volume complete the romantic chic look. Fully lined with no less than 3 skirt layers, the dress twirls to perfection! Just as pretty from front, and back, the self-covered buttons and butterfly bow sash are the ultimate finishing touches.
Your child will love coordinating with her favorite princess! She will look back on the pictures taken with pride and fondness.
CINDERELLA’S CARRIAGE DRESS
This stunning handcrafted magical gold and white Cinderella princess carriage dress is perfect for fairytale lovers. This gorgeous design features a hand embroidered gold and silver carriage upon its chest. This precious design is encapsulated between a diamond pattern in matching shades. The skirt and frilled collar are made of shiny see-through striped golden organza.
With no less than three layers, the dress twirls wonderfully! The butterfly bow sash will ensure a perfect fit too! Your child will feel utterly royal.
This dress can be made in other shades such as pink.
MAGIC WAND PRINCESS DRESS
Sweet and dreamy, this whimsical design features a precious wand and stars hand embroidered upon the chest. Its romantic ruffles, puffed sleeves and a wide skirt give it a light and airy feel. Its butterfly bow is the perfect finishing touch. Thanks to its underlayer it has a gorgeous volume and amazing twirl factor. It just spells Disney fairytales.
This dress is lovely for Disney inspired birthday parties and celebrations too!
PRINCESS’ CROWN DRESS
Beautiful royal style princess dress. This exquisite design features intricate gold and silver smocking as well as a hand embroidered tiara upon the chest. Its wide frilled organza collar and butterfly bow sash to tie in the back add splendor to the dress. Fully lined it twirls to perfection! Highly elegant, it will make your child beam with delight!
SHOES
For ultra comfy and resistant princess shoes, we recommend Mini Melissa’s Disney collection.
For a chic polished look, Age of Innocence has many lovely options, the glittery Ellen ballet flats with a bow are very regal like.
For more shoe options read our article here
BOWS
Bebe Theory has a wide range of Disney princess inspired bows with charming embroideries.
FAIRY WANDS
For fairy wands, we recommend Adaline and the fairies.
SHOPPING ACCESSORIES STRAIGHT AT DISNEY
The best spot in which to buy all the princess accessories you could dream of from tiaras, to gloves and shoes is the Sir Mickey boutique located right inside Disney World just behind Cinderella’s castle. The exhibit takes you straight to the store so it’s perfect for a shopping treat right after meeting Cinderella and the other princesses.
If you have a reservation at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, you can buy all the accessories and shoes (as always, based on what they have for inventory).
Our expert is Katie! Before sharing her advice, here is a brief presentation of her and her family!
My name is Katie and I have a soon to be 4 year old princess, Cameron. I spend most of my days with my daughter, racing around to various activities and enjoying life in Charleston! I also work as a full time real estate agent and a full time travel advisor. In my spare time, I share our adventures on another account: @chsworkingmoms. I’m not one who enjoys sitting still much which leads to my busy and fulfilling schedule.
To get a Disney quote, you can contact me straight on Instagram at @momapprovedtravel.katieo or by filling in the form here. I am here to make your dream come true, you enjoy the fun and magic and I’ll handle all the booking and planning!
Dining at Cinderella’s Royal Table is one of Disney World's most coveted experiences. What are your tips to secure a reservation? How much time ahead should a table be booked?
First, always suggest booking your entire trip as far in advance as you are able pending availability at Disney.
Then, at the 60 day mark, your opportunity to book dining opens up bright and early in the morning, at 5:45 am EST. This is where it’s really great to have a Travel Advisor in your corner. Whilst you rest and get your beauty sleep, I’ll secure the reservations. It requires quite a bit of skill and a bit of luck, at times, to snatch up all of your wishes but I have a few tricks up my sleeve!
Plan B is stalking the Disney app to book last minute trips.
Families staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel have a great advantage as they can book 60 days in advance of check-in day for their entire stay, up to 10 days! That’s one of the safest way to ensure reservations.
Can you walk us through the experience please?
The entrance is on the backside of the spectacular Cinderella castle near Sir Mickey's boutique. You will first be asked to check in at the outdoor podium and will then be escorted inside. You will immediately meet Cinderella or at least in most of the cases straight in the grand hall.
Once your name is read, you will be invited to walk up the winding stone staircase to the royal banquet dining room. Decorated with plush tapestries rich velvet, medieval style lamps reflecting the light through the stained-glass windows, the setting is truly royal.
During your meal, you’ll enjoy additional Princess meetings, opportunities for pictures and autographs. The entire experience is truly magical. Keep your eye out in the castle and see if you can find Jacques & Gus Gus!
What is the food like?
There are menus for Adults & Kiddos and several options for those with allergies too.
You can find the whole menu here.
It’s a table service meal so food will be brought directly to you.
Do you recommend going for lunch, dinner or breakfast?
We recommend going for a late dinner. Try and get an 8 or 8:30 pm dinner reservation to be inside the castle for fireworks. Fun little fact, the fireworks on display actually go off behind the castle and you are able to view them from the glass windows. Once they begin, the princesses will bring the princes and princesses over to the windows to sit and watch the fireworks together with music in the background too It doesn’t get more magical than that!
Where is the best place to sit in the dining room?
There truly isn’t a bad seat because each Princess will come to your table but if I had to choose - sitting at the glass windows is very nice. You can even see the carousel!
How long does the meal take?
This will vary depending on each group’s eating style. The food will never hold up your time. The waiters move the appetizers, meals and desserts efficiently and adapt to your pace. So relax and enjoy!
We recommend an hour to an hour & a half of time when planning the rest of our day. If you are there during fireworks and you finished your meal 5 minutes after the fireworks begin, you will not be allowed to leave until after the fireworks end. (I suggest this as a good time to grab a nice glass of champagne to end the night.)
What’s the best place for taking pictures during the experience?
The princesses will come directly to your table for photos. They tend to just work around your crew. I always get up from the table to take the photos and they’ve all come out well no matter where we are seated.
Which characters do you get to meet?
Cinderella of course!!! Then upstairs it can vary over the years but most recently with some other character meet & greets changes, we’ve met Jasmine, Ariel, Merida & Aurora.
What type of souvenirs do you get?
Each child is given a wishing star and invited make a wish! The princesses can help your little princess pick her wish! It's the sweetest thing!
Royals guests are also gifted a magic wand or sword to take home! You will also be given a postcard with each of the princesses' autograph!
Disney has touched the hearts and minds of children worldwide ever since its creation. Its captivating power never fades. The smiles, pure joy and excitement of little ones as they visit Disney world is timeless.
Beyond the fun of it all, the fascination for Disney characters is a way for children to learn to identify themselves. By creating a close bond with their favorite heroes, little ones will embrace their values and qualities : bravery, love, kindness. They will have a role model to look up to and imitate.
Dressing up will also encourage role play which is an excellent way for children to gain self-confidence and to learn to express themselves. Whilst it may seem as an escape to a fantasy world, it’s also a way to encourage the pursuit of dreams.
Part of the Disney magic lies in taking in finding the perfect setting and striking the sweetest pose with the princess characters! These photos will become cherished memories and will definitely need a permanent spot on your Instagram feed.
Here are a few of our favorite Cinderella quotes for your social media posts captions.
“Where there is kindness, there is goodness, and where there is goodness, there is magic.”
“A dream is a wish your heart makes when you’re fast asleep. In dreams you will lose your heartaches. Whatever you wish for, you keep. Have faith in your dreams, and someday your rainbow will come smiling through.”
“They can’t ordain me to stop dreaming!”
“Even miracles take a little time”
]]>The previous party dress was all about pinks, bows and pearls. Her five year's one is pastel rainbow inspired.
Read all about the story of the dress making and party. Find outfit inspiration as well as decor, cake and balloon ideas for your own princess's party.
THE DRESS
Having a keen and discerning eye for beauty, Brittany likes to draw inspiration from current fashion collections and couture details. This season her heart was set on a Zimmerman white top and skirt. She was also drawn to pastel rainbow flats from the Chanel Cruise Collection. Using these elements as a basis for Madison's dress creation seemed like the perfect way to bring to life her daughter's dream. Madison had indeed requested a mummy and me coordinated look.
Eternal pastel lover yet looking for a joyful theme, a soft rainbow palette was most fitting. The moodboard created with the talented Elizabeth from the Pop of Color Balloons instantly set the tone.
And of course we had to incorporate bows! Incorporating all these ideas gave birth to the most exquisite multicolored rainbow bow smocking design adorning the chest of the dress. Featuring yellow, pink, blue, lilac and seafoam green, the miniature bows form a most charming pattern. A chic and subtle rainbow interpretation entirely hand made by the expert hands of our team.
To create a light, dreamy, poetic, angel like feel, we decided on white organza with ruffle inserts and frilled collar.
The tulle underlayer added extra puffiness to the skirt ensuring an amazing twirl factor.
Last but not least the rainbow self covered buttons in the back were the ultimate chic finishing touch along with our signature bow sash of course.
And to make it all the more special, we created a matching American Doll outfit! The smaller the cuter!
Read more about the dress making-of story here
Shop the dress here
If you cannot find your size pre-order here
Shop the dolly dress here
ACCESSORIES
Like last year, the dress was paired with L’Amour shoes. The white Renata shoes were perfect to elevate the look for this special occasion.
Storybook Goods Birthday Party Hat has been a part of Madison's celebration forever! She always gets so excited when she sees her adorable “party hat!” It's a sweet keepsake.
Madison also wore a custom bow from Layette in Dallas that we ordered while on a girls Shopping trip back in October.
BIMBOM BUNNY
This year, an additional guest took part in the party : an exquisite handmade BimBom Bunny. Dressed in a white oufit and wearing a crown it matched perfectly with Madison.
THE BOW BALLOON BOUNCY CASTLE
Another of Brittany's signature when its comes to parties is bouncy castles. Since Madison turned five and adores bows, it had to feature 5 gigantic ribbons made of balloons! And not any kind but pastels ones to create a beautiful rainbow! And who better than Pop of Color to bring this vision to life.
The bounce castle was provided by Inflate Forty Eight.
It served as a beautiful decor and brought much joy to the children! Combining beauty and fun is definitely one of Brittany's talents as a party planner.
PRINCESS ENTERTAINMENT
The Enchanted Princess Party Company provided the most perfect Cinderella, Aurora and Belle to help lead activities, apply makeup and sing to the children. This extra touch was very well received, especially by all of the girls in attendance!
TEA PARTY CATERING
Madison's birthday celebrations always gravitate around a tea party. Benedict Catering provided appetizing tea sandwiches and pastries along with “apple juice” as the tea for the little princess guests. They also took care of the fabulous pink table rentals that are always a huge hit! Having the right staff especially when organising events with children is key.
TEA SET
Every year Brittany gifts her daughter a 5-piece China set (complete with a tea pot). This year, she added the Vista Alegre Ruban Blue Bow to her collection.
CAKES AND TREATS
The gluten free/dairy free cake was beautifully designed by Jewels Bakery and represented Madison’s Birthday gift this year, a Herend pink Crown from Scully and Scully that will serve as a memento for her Princess 5th Birthday party.
The party favors consisted of darling Her Royal Fiveness themed cookies done by the incredible Mikayla Bakes in Scottsdale, Arizona. The perfect sweet treat that the children started enjoying as they were walking out the door. They were such a hit!
LIGHT UP DECOR
Alpha Lit Phoenix provided the light up “FIVE” : a fun element to add glamour to the party and perfect setting for photos.
PHOTOS
The incredibly talented Hannah Lorsch took photos and videos all throughout the party.
THE REST OF THE FAMILY'S OUTFITS
Brittany's family is always impeccably dressed from head to toe.
Brittany is wearing a white skirt and top from Zimmerman paired with a Silver Snow Swarovski Snowflake Knotted headband from Lele Sadoughi along with pastel Chanel ballet flats.
Her handsome sons are wearing Class Club Long Sleeve Window Pane Dress Jackets from Dillards.
A FEW WORDS FROM BRITTANY
Throwing memorable celebrations for my children is incredibly important to me, as my mother was incredible at doing the same for me as I was growing up. I am still very close with my mom to this day, and a mother/daughter relationship in my eyes is one that should be nourished and respected. As I plan and throw parties for my only daughter, I think about the importance of this relationship and how to incorporate her voice. I am forever grateful for the opportunity to be a girl mom and I want to always remember this quote: “In the garden of relationships, the mother-daughter bond is the rarest and most exquisite flower.”
Read all about the party straight from Brittany's blog in her own words here
]]>Discover all about the brand's history, values, inspirations and learn more about our team.
1. Please tell me a little bit about your brand. When was the brand created and what inspired you to create beautiful girls dresses?
Our brand Charlotte sy Dimby is a hymn to the beauty of childhood. Through French style handmade traditional smocked and embroidered dresses, our wish is to make little girls feel utterly unique and special.
All our collections, created in highly limited edition, are designed by our founder and stylist. Aged 76 and fondly nicknamed “Queen of Smocks”, Monique Ramahay is behind each and every piece which is then lovingly crafted with the help of our skilled team members who are like family to us!
Sybille, known as Charlotte, takes care of the Parisian boutique L’Île aux Fées, the e-shop and handles communication. Some relationships are written in the stars : ours is clearly one of those! We are closely linked and share some much in common, we truly believe it was meant to be : “There are no coincidences, only encounters,” said Paul Éluard.
2. Did you have a career in Fashion before launching Charlotte Sy Dimby?
In spite of her artistic talents from an early age on, Monique’s parents strongly encouraged her to take up scientific studies. She graduated with success as an engineer and began her career as an electronic engineer. Yet the company where she was employed faced difficulties and she was made redundant. Five decades ago women in the sector were so rare that she was considered a complete alien. Struggling to find work in the field, feeling that she had studied for nothing, she became very depressed. To fight against this feeling of uselessness and rejection, she turned towards creativity. Using all the tools and objects she could find, she let her imagination flow freely. As her dad said, she soon became successful with her “rags”. This creative experimentation phase was very gratifying and comforted her choice of an artistic career. It brought her renewed joy and encouraged her to take the big leap into the fashion world.
For the funny story, she worked for the American NASA as an intern! An experience she thoroughly enjoyed!
Charlotte studied economics then fashion at the Parisian school ESMOD. However she soon realized her calling was not to create fashion but to highlight it! She began as an intern at the boutique and never left! It was truly love at first sight with both the dresses and most of all with Monique who taught her everything!
3. Where do you see your business 5 years from now? Would you ever branch into other areas of fashion?
In five years, we hope to bring ever greater joy to families all over the world through our dresses and to continue to pass down the secrets of traditional smocks making.
We have created a partnership with HipHip Hooray in Dallas and one in Japan with San Sakae Petit. Whilst wishing to remain unique and exclusive, we would love to develop more of these fun collaborations in which we create limited editions for other boutiques! We’d love to continue making our dresses travel!
One of our projects would also be to create a mummy, daughter and dolly capsule!
And our all time dream would be to host a tea party with all our Charlotte sy Dimby princesses and their families in Paris! Imagine the fancy twirls, the smiles as the little girls meet one another and play in their pretty gowns...
4. Who has inspired you most along the way?
More than a person, 4 quotes constantly guide and inspire us!
“It is truly useful since it is beautiful.” - The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupéry
Creating dresses is our way of bringing beauty and joy to the world. Elegance is our door to a dream world of innocence and bliss! Through our designs, we wish to celebrate the magic of childhood, add a sparkle to these precious fast fleeting years and create happy memories.
“A thing of beauty is a joy forever.” - Poems of Sentiment: IV by John Keats
By creating timeless designs which never go out of style, we imagine our dresses as heirloom pieces to be cherished and passed down from one generation to another. We wish them to be treasured as tokens of love! May they become symbols of happy childhood souvenirs.
“The only wealth is man” - Jean Bodin.
Respecting each and every person entering our universe is our utmost priority. Having our very own atelier, each team member is valued and considered : we are a big family. Our dresses are all handmade and behind each one lies a heart and soul. Caring for each child wearing our dresses and building bonds with families also means a lot to us. Taking part in special moments and making dreams come true, brings us great joy.
“ What is essential is invisible to the eye. It is only with the heart that one can see rightly”- The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupéry
This quote is at the core of our philosophy and guides all our actions. Beyond beautiful dresses, we like to think that we can convey a little more. Keeping traditions alive, passing down the precious know-how of smocks and embroideries in our atelier, supporting families, spreading positivity and optimism are our ways of making the world a better place at our humble level!
5. What is the story behind the name Charlotte Sy Dimby?
Charlotte sy Dimby is our brand name whilst L’Île aux Fées is our boutique name.
Each word had a meaning.
Charlotte :
Classic French girl’s name, popular in France since the fifteenth century, Charlotte holds a special place in our hearts. Indeed, Monique has had the honour of dressing two princesses named Charlotte.
First Charlotte of Monaco. For several years, Monique collaborated with Bonpoint, one of the most elegant French children’s brands. One of the dresses made for Bonpoint which featured little boats was worn by the princess who was 2y at the time. The picture was published in the magazine Point de Vue and met with huge success! Charlotte is also linked to Princess Charlotte of Cambridge. Whilst collaborating with a Spanish brand based in the UK, we were asked to create a collection of smocked dresses. One of them, a lavender blue classic Peter Pan collar and puffed sleeves dress with coral smocks was gifted by our partner to Princess Charlotte of Wales, member of the British royal family. To our utter amazement and delight, the dress which we had lovingly imagined and made from the very first to last stitch, was worn by the princess during an official trip to Canada as part of a royal tour in. We could not have been more honored.
Last but not least, Charlotte has become the nickname of Sybille, in charge of the Parisian boutique and online store. Frequently being called so by mothers and children alike, it is now her second name! She is fond of it!
Sy :
Sy is a symbol of union as it means "and" in Madagascan, mother tongue of our atelier and birth island of Monique. We like to consider Charlotte sy Dimby as a big family, in which all are united to celebrate childhood! Our wish is to create bonds through our collections : trustworthy relationships between the atelier and families, links between generations with dresses passed down as precious heirlooms, ties with children by taking part in their special moments and many more...
Dimby :
Dimby is part of our designer's full last name "Ramahay Mandimby". It means “she/he who is able to pass down and to come after. It is linked to the notion of heritage, this term perfectly matches our values. Keeping the art of smocking and traditional couture alive is at the heart of our brand philosophy.
6. When did you open the store in Paris and do you foresee opening any other locations?
The boutique has been a children’s one for decades. In 2009, when the previous manager decided to retire, Monique, whose dresses were already available among other brands, decided to keep the magic alive and pursue the adventure. It is thus particularly sweet as we now have grandparents who dressed their children at the store, coming back to shop for their grandchildren!
We love our little quaint and authentic boutique nestled in the heart of Paris. We see it a home for friends and families and are therefore happy to keep our location unique! So no new boutique openings planned!
7. What is the best piece of advice you were given? Regarding anything from business to parenting to personal development, etc.?
The four quotes mentioned previously are our best advice! Like a mantra or motto, we have engraved them in our hearts and minds. We strive to live by them!
8. What advice would you give to other women?
Dare to believe in your very own dreams and projects! Strive to be autonomous and independent! The journey may not always be straight forward but after the darkest hour always comes the sunshine. Each day offers a fresh start and new opportunity, we always have a second chance. If you fail, never give up because FAIL means “first attempt in learning” and NO means move on to the “next opportunity”.
9. Is there anything you wish someone had told you along the way?
It is through experience that we learn the most! Don’t wait for someone else to gift you flowers but plant your own garden and decorate your own soul.
10. What does work/life balance look like for you?
We are truly passionate about our “work”. To the point that we don’t consider it as work, the brand is intricately intertwined with our daily life! They say “Find a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” : That's exactly us.
It doesn’t mean it’s all pink and rosy but to quote Mary Poppins this time “In every job that must be done there is an element of fun”.
11. What adversity has challenged you the most, yet made you a stronger person?
In the 90s, Madagascar, home country of our designer and team, faced a huge crisis and the entire island went on strike for over 10 months. This put an end to all overseas partnerships. Monique, who had her children’s clothing company employing 1200 people creating smocked dresses for the best European children’s brands such as Bonpoint, Cyrillus and Jacadi at that time, was forced to close.
However she did not wish to give up her dream! During thirteen years, she sold her dresses on the markets of Paris, Versailles and its surroundings. Working outdoors all day long, constantly driving from one place to another whilst raising three children was tough. In spite of the difficulties, she was happy for she had “the treasure of the heart’ : the ability to make others happy. Through her dresses, she brought joy to mums and little girls. Seeing the dresses worn with bright smiles and then being passed down from sister to sister filled her heart!
Her perseverance gradually paid off and she was able to fulfill the dream of her life and open her very own boutique L’Île aux Fées in the heart of Paris. The challenging circumstances definitely made her a stronger woman.
12. I know you meet so many inspiring women every day, how do you feel we can better support the motto of “Women helping Women?”
Our team is almost entirely composed of women. Valuing their talents and skills, allowing them to be finally independent is a way of empowering them! Our atelier being in Madagascar, birth country of our designer, this takes all its importance. It’s much more than just employees, we are like a family and truly feel responsible for each member’s well being! It’s giving each woman the opportunity to obtain a proper status, to raise and educate their children in good conditions who in turn will be able to allow the island to progress. At our very humble scale, we like to think we can make a difference.
Collaborating on creative projects like yours with the Madison dress is also a way to support women! It allows mums to express their creativity and imagination, to awaken the artist lying deep within the hearts of many.
13. How would you describe your sense of style? If there was one designer who has inspired you most, who would that be?
Monique’s one would be either soft or colorful! Depending on her mood, she will wear dreamy calming soothing pastel as a way to wrap herself in tenderness. When she needs energy, she will gravitate towards very bright, joyful, happy and sometimes rather unexpected shades!
As for Charlotte, she has the immense privilege of being mainly dressed by the team! She loved her beautifully hand smocked and embroidered outfits which fit right in with the boutique ambiance!
Yves Saint Laurent is a deep source of inspiration for the two of us. We look up to the incredible bond he built with Pierre Bergé, uniting their different talents, they were able to bring to life the most fascinating designs! We admire his creations, his incredible fashion shows, his whole universe!
14. What is your favorite splurge or investment “High Bar” piece in your wardrobe?
For Monique, Hermès scarfs! Nothing quite like elegant silk tied around the neck to elevate a look and give that effortless chic Parisian look.
Charlotte is fond of My Chatelles slippers with interchangeable tassels! The most perfect flats for a chic look.
15. What is your favorite trendy yet affordable “Side Bar” piece in your wardrobe?
For Monique, earrings! She loves to change them often according to the trends of the moment! She collects them as a fun accessory.
For Sybille, it would be hair bows! Undoubtedly influenced by our Charlotte sy Dimby princesses, she is very fond of them lately!
16. What is one thing on your wish list for 2024?
To have well prepared the future of the company and those dear to our hearts and thus find even greater serenity allowing us to create even prettier dresses and spread greater joy!
You can find the original article straight on Brittany's website here.
For more inspiring content from fashion to tablescapes to entertaining and travel by Brittany, we recommend signing up to her newsletter!
May this charming Orangerie themed celebration give you ideas for your very own princess. If you love the shades yellow and orange, are fond of citrus fruits and enjoy France, then search no further!
Ingrid’s first birthday dress was a very special collaboration. When we asked for a custom dress to mark this milestone, Monique and the team immediately said yes, and the quest for the perfect design began! I really wanted the dress to have a lot of yellow, since that’s one of Ingrid’s best colors, and I wanted to incorporate birds into the embroidery, because we call her our little chickadee!
First, Monique found the perfect fabric, bursting with lemons and oranges which instantly set the tone.
Then began the real creative challenge : the smocks and embroidery. The fabric reminded me of the Orangerie at Versailles, so we decided to have the smocks on the side represent a lattice with oranges.
Then for the birds, we choose to include the same charming bird embroidery from the very first dress we got for Ingrid at the Paris boutique when I was still expecting, making it even more symbolic and special! The result was perfect in every way—joyful, exuberant, and beautiful, just like Ingrid herself!
We paired Ingrid's dress with Doña Carmen shoes which I highly recommend for little ones. They come in all shades! These were worn with Merceria Edelweiss socks.
Her birthday hat and crown are from Sweet Cakes and Sassy Pants on Etsy.
For her cake smash, she wore a Tiny Twinkle ruffled bib which was customized with an iron-on from Kate & Jake on Etsy.
I wanted the invitations to follow the Orangerie theme of the dress, and clementine oranges are called “Cuties” in America, so the invitations featured a happy little orange and the phrase “Our little cutie is turning one!”.
For the design we used Zazzle's My Party Studio which offers a wide variety of styles and options.
The dress was the central piece of the party and the whole birthday evolved around it. That meant a citrus theme of lemons and oranges and happy shades of yellow, orange, and green. Right up to the cake specially made to match the exact colors of the dress! Thank you to Sweet Tooth Cakery for this exquisite creation.
It’s easy to find party décor for a “Cutie” orange themed party, or to find décor for a lemon themed party, but it was impossible to find ready made décor for a party featuring both lemons and oranges, so I had to make many of the elements myself…
Thank goodness for my Cricut machine that lets me cut paper into any shape imaginable! I love swiss dot fabric, and the dots in the lattice smocks on the sides of Ingrid’s dress remind me of that a bit, so I found special swiss dot paper to make the happy birthday and monthly picture banners, as well as the “One” bunting on her high chair.
Villeroy & Boch French Garden china features a lovely fruit and flower theme, including lemons and lemon blossoms, and the matching linens incorporate lattice work, so that seemed the natural choice for the tableware.
A festive matching ballon arch and a few gold swirl ceiling streamers holding citrus cutouts rounded out the décor.
As a fun finishing touch, I took 50 different pictures of Ingrid over her first year and turned each individual face into a party pick for the hors d’oeuvres (pizza cupcakes and pigs in blankets—family kid favorites!). We also had a photo
banner featuring pictures from each month of her first year.
Like many families, our first birthday tradition is giving the baby their own cake and seeing what they will do with it (a “smash cake”). Ingrid’s smash cake had a multitude of edible figures on it—happy little lemons and oranges, etc.
Ingrid is very detail-oriented and observant and loves to inspect things, so it came as no surprise that rather than smashing the cake, she wanted to inspect and eat the little figures instead! Seeing her unique little “Ingrid” ways on display as she carefully inspected and ate her cake was my favorite moment of the day!
I strongly recommend planning your party very much in advance! Especially if you plan on hand making some of the decor! It's always more time taking than planned!
Follow Katherine on Instagram @gr82bk8
Find more inspiration with other Charlotte sy Dimby parties
To plan your special Charlotte sy Dimby party dress please send us an email at info@charlottesydimby.com
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Below you will find :
1 - Thoughts on how to explain the meaning of kindness and its importance to children
2 - A fun and easy kindness challenge to do as a family
3 - Inspiring quotes on kindness
Developing the compassionate and positive virtue of kindness involves three steps :
Experiencing kindness : To be able to give kindness, children must first receive it! "One cannot pour from an empty cup". Kindness comes naturally as a parent to their loved ones.
Acknowledging kindness : Whatever the age, we can all remember that happy, warm feeling within our hearts which comes from having been treated with kindness. Looking back at acts of kindness, recalling the emotions felt, giving words to them will help children to fully grasp its meaning.
Practising kindness : Once that is understood, your little one will then be ready to offer kindness to others. Through experience they will learn that kindness blesses the receiver as much as the giver! Whilst kindness implies treating others with compassion and understanding without expecting anything in return, it creates a peaceful and loving atmosphere which benefits all. To fully integrate this, there is nothing better than practice.
To incorporate the practice of kindness into daily family life whilst taking into account busy schedules, we have created a 20 day kindness challenge. The aim is to develop this skill and allow it to become a natural habit.
Each day, a simple and easy to perform act of kindness is suggested. Requiring very little time or effort, it is accessible to all. The idea is for both parents and children to take part. Being accountable towards one another can be a form of encouragement.
Download the printable challenge below here, set a starting date and tick the box (one for adults, one for kids) at the end of each day if the challenge has been met.
To go even further after having completed this first challenge, you may want to create your own one and come up with new ideas. You could also have a box with random acts of kindness to pick from within your home. Unleash your creativity and have fun during the process! There is no better way to learn than through joyful experiences.
Use the kindness quotes below as much as you can! Treasure them in your heart, mention them in your discussions with others, print and frame them in your home, office or use they them as a phone and computer background. Share them on social media, in your facebook posts, Instagram captions or on Twitter.
"Kind hearts are the garden, kind thoughts are the roots, kind words are the blossoms, kind deeds are the fruit."
"Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference. They bless the one who receives them, and they bless you, the giver."
"Kindness is igniting a light in someone else for no reason other than to watch them enjoy the glow."
"What wisdom can you find that is greater than kindness?"
"Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world."
"Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love."
"Gentleness and kindness will make our homes a paradise upon earth."
"Kind words can be short and easy to say but their echoes are truly endless."
"A gentle word, a kind look, a good-natured smile can work wonders and accomplish miracles."
"Be the living expression of kindness; kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile!"
"A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees."
"Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for kindness."
"Unexpected kindness is the most powerful, least costly, and most underrated agent of human change."
"Be kind. Scatter sunshine. Who knows whose life you might touch with something as simple as a gentle word."
Teaching children the power of gratitude
The five love languages of children
All the illustrations in the kindness challenge are created by the talented artist Madeleine Hall, founder of Burlington Bear and the Charlotte and Burlington Club. You are welcome to join us.
]]>Braiding of two interweaved part of a ribbon, ubiquitous symbol of feminity, representing love and unity, used to hold or adorn, present since the dawn of time (Sumerian gold hair ribbons date back to 2600-2500 BC), bows hold a place of honor in the world fashion. Loved by mums and little girls alike, they are forever present in our collections.
We are thus thrilled to present a new bow dress designed in collaboration with Sierra Hayden. Named after her two daughters, the Alysia and Audrina dress is a pink and grey version of our lavender blue Princess Charlotte dress re-edited with a bow theme. A timeless classic just like the blue one but with a feminine, girly, romantic feel.
About the dress design :
The bodice is hand smocked with delicate grey bows upon a diamond shape pattern. The Peter Pan collar and sleeve cuffs are adorned with an embroidered bow trim replicating that of the smocks. And of course, a butterfly bow sash in the back is the ultimate finishing touch.
How to style the dress :
To create a full look, Sierra has curated a selection of matching hair bows and shoes. Perfect accessories to coordinate with the dress.
To purchase, click on the link here and then click on the item itself. You will be redirected to the brand's e-shop.
To purchase, click on the link here and then click on the item itself. You will be redirected to the brand's e-shop.
The story and inspiration behind the dress :
We owe this design idea to Sierra whom we fondly nickname the 'Bow Eye' as she has a special passion for it under all its forms and shapes. She is always the first to spot new trends and exquisite bow findings.
Our initial encounter actually began with a bow discussion. Having spotted a dress with bows worn by Elle Hertz, daughter of Emily Hertz, founder of Born on Fifth and Bows & Blue (whose logo happens to be a bow), she asked more details. A tradition of dressing her princesses in matching dresses which always included a bow thus began. Season after season, the collection of the girls keeps growing!
Below you will find some of the prettiest designs created over the years as well as a little more about Sierra herself.
Which is your favourite Charlotte sy Dimby dress?
Sierra : The current Alysia & Audrina dress is my most favorite at this time, but each dress the girls have is special in its own way. The smocking of the current Alysia & Audrina dress is exactly how I envisioned it. The bow detail is one of a kind. It’s a very special dress! I love bows!
Can you share about another of your passions?
Sierra : Roses are everything & more. I specifically only grow David Austin roses preferably pink. I enjoy smelling each scent. I love capturing the beauty of each bloom in photographs. I treat my roses as if they are my other children. I hope the girls learn to love rose gardening like I do.
If you wish to know, you can follow my Instagram page @intothepinkrosegarden dedicated to this passion of mine.
What is the next piece of clothes or item you are eyeing for the girls?
Always a Charlotte sy Dimby dress! Thinking of a blue version of the Alysia & Audrina one. We did a blue one a couple of years ago for a birthday! With matching doll outfits of course!
What’s on my 2024 dream list?
I am dreaming of taking pictures of the girls amongst the roses in the garden. I am dreaming of roses on hats. I am hoping for a beautiful pink rose garden this year!
Also, I will be redoing the girls room from top to bottom very soon. I will be adding bow floral crown moulding along with floral cane beds. I aiming for a French look with gold accessories to highlight the painting of Alysia by Shari Ford Portraits.
Follow Sierra and her daughters on Instagram
Follow her pinterest bow themed board here
Read another article from Sierra
Long may the love of bows last!
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A little introduction
My name is Victoria Strader, and I am a mother of three with one on the way. We live in the Dallas/Fort Worth area of Texas, but all of my extended family is based in England, and I was born in Paris so the place truly holds a special place in my heart.
I’ve had the honor of collaborating with Charlotte sy Dimby several times over the past few years. In 2021, we created a royal capsule collection inspired by the British royal family, my absolute favorites! With the team, we re-edited the dress worn by Princess Charlotte for my daughter Sophie and designed a coordinating baby boy bubble, and a big brother shirt to complement! You can read all about it here and shop the outfits too since they are now part of the brand’s iconics. In 2022, we designed the Sophie Cherie dress, inspired by my daughter and all things French. You can learn more here. And for this trip, we created yet another special dress!
Our family trip
Ever since our first encounter online, we have been dreaming of visiting Paris, of seeing the boutique and getting to meet in person. We have had several obstacles but never gave up and the trip finally took place this October with my husband Ben and just two of our children, Sophie aged five and John Luke almost three. It was my little ones' very first time in Paris.
We tend to plan trips during summer but fall break was a great experience and perhaps an even better moment to travel. The crowds were smaller, tourists were less numerous, the leaves were beginning to turn golden. Weather was cooler, we did get a bit of rain but it was not cold! With a light coat we were able to enjoy lots of time outdoors.
We traveled for a total of ten days, beginning with London and then Paris. We initially thought that with jet lag we’d want lots of time but looking back seven days would probably have been sufficient to fully enjoy and explore.
To get from London to Paris, we took the Eurostar. The children especially enjoyed being on the train and going in the underwater channel. It’s quick and easy, in less than three hours, you can get from one capital to another. It’s really a really smooth process and I definitely encourage visiting both capitals, it’s a great way to give children a good insight of the European way of life.
To allow extra space for our family, we had an apartment to ourselves instead of mere hotel rooms and truly appreciated it. We decided to take it easy on our first day, to walk around and soak in the Parisian ambiance rather than rush from one museum to another. We wanted the children to settle in and grasp the magic of the city.
Once we had checked in and freshened up, Sophie had her heart set on a trip to Ladurée : macarons are a must when in Paris. The lovely man working the line realized that I was pregnant and confirmed with my husband, and then ushered us to the front of the line, skipping the wait and letting Sophie and I feel like princesses. Afterwards we walked down to look at the gorgeous Arc de Triomphe which is a sight in itself and then ate at an easy bistro before heading home for early bedtimes. We had big plans first thing in the morning!
In the early days of planning our trip, I knew that I wanted to do a photo session at the Eiffel Tower. When my husband, Ben, and I first got married, we did one and still treasure the photos from ten years ago!
This time, we decided to just take photos of my daughter and I. Of course Sophie was wearing a Charlotte sy Dimby dress for the occasion. We designed a unique piece just for her, one that would coordinate with my own outfit. We stepped out of my comfort zone a little with an off white satin cotton which had a slight sheen. For the smocks we decided on soft creams with tints of pink. Given the season, we chose ¾ length sleeves. A dress we will truly cherish forever. We debated the need of a coat but it turned out to be unnecessary.
We met an English speaking photographer from Lamour de Paris at the Trocadéro at 8am, and took some lovely photos right before sunrise, and the accompanying large crowds. We had such a fun time, and then hopped in a taxi back to our apartment. We went to a nearby boulangerie to grab a few pastries for breakfast. Another example of extraordinary kindness that we experienced in Paris, the man working gave each of the children an extra pastry to enjoy as a kind gift. French pastries are so beautiful and special. Although we can get a pain au chocolat easily at home, there is nothing like enjoying a warm one in Paris! We ended up getting our photos back a few weeks later and I couldn’t possibly be more pleased with how they turned out!
After changing into less formal clothes, we headed out for a delightful morning in Paris. We love walking a lot when we explore cities, so much so that while in Paris the front tire of our stroller popped off! So a note to traveling families, check stroller tires before traveling and consider replacing. We spent some time playing at a park near the base of the Eiffel Tower, explored the 7th, and then had lunch at La Fontaine de Mars. It’s the perfect place to enjoy the Parisian art of living, We had a lovely meal sitting under the arcades with the sound of the nearby fountain, the staff was very friendly, and the modern cuisine delicious.
After lunch, we separated into boys and girls, Sophie and I had a mother daughter date to the Dior museum planned, and I didn’t think it would be appreciated much by our two and a half year old son! We had the absolute best time discovering the history of the brand.
Everything was displayed beautifully and several displays took our breath away. Sophie enjoyed it as much as I did and loved taking photos of her favorite dresses on my phone. At the end of the museum, we stopped for mocktails and a cookie to rest our legs. It was another opportunity to soak up the lovely environment of Dior!
Afterwards we hopped in a quick uber to Jardin des Tuileries, to walk around before our entry time at Musée de l’Orangerie located in the heart of the garden. To prepare the children for this experience, I had been reading them a book called “The Magical Garden of Claude Monet” by Laurence Anholt. This allowed them to appreciate Monet’s iconic work all the more. It’s a great museum to visit with young ones. The water lily painted covering the entire walls and following the curves of the room invite endless contemplation whatever the age.
Learn from my mistake, I booked tickets for the children, but they were not required. However, this did end up being kind of fun because after our time admiring the famous water lilies, I went to the long line of people waiting without tickets to enter. A young woman smiled at us, so I asked if she spoke English. Her friend did a little bit, and I explained as well as I could that I had two extra tickets, and could gift them to her. They realized quickly what I meant and were so grateful, blowing us kisses and heading to the front of the line after speaking so kindly to the children. It was a tiny encounter that became a sweet memory!
After our busy day, we decided to opt out of a formal dinner and grabbed fruit, bread, meat, cheese from the grocery nearby and ate comfortably in our apartment. Yet another advantage of having one's own place. The next day, we slept in a little bit and relaxed before heading to brunch at Angelina, the mythical Parisian institution famous for its decadent hot chocolate and pastries. The children, especially Sophie, enjoyed the grand Belle Époque décor.
After Angelina we took a car over to Jardin du Luxembourg. An absolutely stunning garden that I wish we could have stayed for hours and hours. The kids rented a sailboat and were thrilled to play with it and enjoy watching others do the same. They then took a ride on the old carousel. Another huge highlight. They loved every minute and it felt so special to be watching my children enjoy Paris.
Our next stop was finally, the children’s boutique L’Île aux Fées! A special sign on the door was awaiting Princess Sophie. We all felt instantly at home.
I was so looking forward to seeing more of the Charlotte sy Dimby dresses in person, and of course finally getting to meet my dear friend in person. We had the absolute best time and my biggest takeaway was how much more beautiful all of the smocked dresses are in person. Seeing the variety of fabrics in person just blew me away. It’s so hard to photograph the exquisite fabrics. Being able to touch, feel and admire them with your own eyes makes all the difference.
We grabbed a taxi just moments before the rain began to pour in perfect time, and the kids and I rested back in the apartment while my husband went to the Rugby World Cup village to score some merch, haha! We had big dinner plans, a reservation at Francette, on a boat at the base of the Eiffel tower. We enjoyed delicious tapas style food, had a phenomenal view of the tower, and got to see the sparkle from one of the very best views in the city. Memories I will cherish forever! It was the perfect night out before our Eurostar train back to London the next morning.
Paris is often called the most beautiful city in the world, but I will say this trip exceeded our every expectation. The kindness of everyone we met left such an impression and it was beyond special to experience the city from a family perspective. I am already counting down until our next visit!
Places to look into if you’re heading to Paris with kids for a couple of days according to Victoria
Museums :
* Musée de l'Orangerie - to see Monet's Waterlilies
* Galerie Dior - for fashion lovers & for a glamourous mum and daughter outing
Gardens :
Places to eat for lunch or dinner :
* Fontaine de Mars - typical French bistrot
* Francette - dinner on a boat with view on the Eiffel Tower
Places for delicious pastries and macarons :
* Angelina
* Ladurée
Children's clothes shop :
Follow Victoria on Instagram : @victoriastrader
Visit her blog
Read more articles about family trips to Paris
To receive personalised tips for your Paris trip or have a special map/illustrations made, please contact the Charlotte & Burlington family club by email at info@charlottesydimby.com or on Instagram @charlotteandburlington.
Read all about Emilia's winter wonderland celebration. Thanks to her amazing mum, Shannon, find inspiration for your own child's party : decor and styling ideas, cakes, treats, outfits and much more. Based in Florida, most of the vendors are locals yet this party can easily be replicated elsewhere.
It all started with the dress. Before we began planning & scheming, Emilia mentioned that she had wanted a ‘Princess Elsa birthday party’ this year. As soon as I laid eyes on Charlotte sy Dimby's magic star print wand dress, I just knew a Frozen theme was meant to be!
We decided on a big event for her fourth birthday party. She has reached an age where she can fully appreciate and remember it for years to come. We were thrilled when my sweet mother in law offered for us to have the party at her school, which is the preschool that Emilia attends. The venue is the perfect size to host the 100+ people on our guest list, including all of the children & parents. Transforming school grounds into a beautiful party was quite the challenge, but it turned out wonderfully.
To bring our vision to life, we hired a company named Micù Designs specialised in event planning.
Micù Design handled our invitations. They were whimsical, feminine and on theme. We used for the first time in “four-ever” in the title, as a nod to the song and to her age. A sweet touch!
We sent them by email which was easy and convenient for all.
I jokingly described our party aesthetic as “Frozen, minus the Elsa” because I am not the biggest fan of character decor.
We had an ice palace backdrop with balloons in our signature colors, soft lilac, pale blue & silver. The cake was beautifully done in three tiers with cascading snowflakes & a crown topper.
We only use Bake Bar Miami for all of our cakes, their baker, Mailyn, always nails it!
The children’s table was elegant & sweet, and the custom cookies at each place setting were such a treat! It's great to work with trustworthy vendors who get to know your tastes over the years. It makes the planning so much easier.
Emilia has been wearing Charlotte sy Dimby dresses each year since her very first birthday. It's a beloved tradition of ours which we always honor.
She was so excited to wear her Magic Wand Netti dress. The puffy skirt with tulle lining and sweet ruffles were perfect for the party. She felt like a true princess and twirled the day away!
We paired it with silver L’Amour Shoes and a blue Wee Ones bow.
The party started off with a princess puppet show performed by the teachers at Emilia’s school, which was spectacular and my personal favorite. Then Elsa, Anna & Olaf arrived. We hired them from Happy Princess Club and they were absolutely wonderful.
They performed a coronation for Emilia, followed by sing along songs & games. The crowd's favorite was, of course, Let it go! We also had a Bubble House from Bubble House Miami which was a huge hit with all of the children!
Each guest received a pair of Stand-Up sunglasses. The girls glasses featured Elsa on them with crystals & pearls, and the boys glasses had blue & white stars. They turned out so cute!
My favorite moment had to be seeing Emilia’s face when she saw Elsa for the first time. And seeing her smiling from ear to ear the entire day. She was incredibly happy to be with all of her family & friends. It was truly the most magical day!
My party planning tip would be that you can make any theme look pretty and aesthetically pleasing simply by using pastels!
I would also suggest hiring a photographer. It makes for the sweetest memories to look back upon! Jenna captured the magic of the event to perfection.
Follow Shannon and her family on Instagram @shannon_bardales
Read another article from Shannon about Emilia's second birthday party inspired by Peppa Pig.
Find more inspiration with other Charlotte sy Dimby parties
To plan your special Charlotte sy Dimby party dress please send us an email at info@charlottesydimby.com
]]>Wishing to bring the 'art de vivre à la française' (French art of living) to Dallas, we have designed a classic Parisian style capsule.
Our timeless white dress with soft blue smocks is perfect for heirloom portraits and photographies. White highlights children's innocence and delicate features.
The beauty of our blue dress lies in its details. The pink rosebud embroideries on the sleeves are the ultimate sophisticated final touch making all the difference.
Our pastel pink dress is an ode to our love of the City of Lights. If you look carefully you will notice that the pink flower smocks form mini Eiffel Towers.
Last but not least, our dresses are fully lined with an openwork petticoat ensuring a perfect twirl factor.
We will say no more and let you discover the entire collection with your very own eyes.
Hip Hip Hooray is Dallas’ premier classic children’s clothing boutique. Established in 1999, by designer Jennifer Howell, it has been family owned and run by three generations. Together with her sister, Janel, the two carefully curate a lovely selection of exclusive offerings.
While it offers beautiful clothing to precious children, Hip Hip Hooray is more than a boutique. It is a community where customers become family. A place providing exquisite, hand crafted pieces for life’s most meaningful milestones.
In their words :
It is a gift to witness children grow before our eyes, from helping their mothers choose their take home outfits to watching their eyes go wide as they spot the perfect dress for their first day of school. Exclamations of “I look like a princess” as she twirls in their new flower girl dress or the glimmer in his eyes when he slips into a fresh pair of loafers and remarks “They look like my dads!”
These children are more than customers. As they grow, we provide age appropriate and timeless options into their early adolescents. We are driven by our belief in the magic of childhood and our desire to let it linger as long as it can.
Sally Gates, is one of the premier pastel portrait painters in America today. She travels all over America to photograph and then paint children dressed in traditional outfits. We had the immense honor of meeting her several times in our Parisian boutique and the great privilege of dressing her granddaughter for her official portrait.
Dallas holds a special place in the heart. She no longer counts the number of her portraits hanging in Dallas homes. She visits the city at least once a year if not more. It has been her top city for commissions since the 2000. It was Dallas which allowed her to gain national awareness.
It thus felt only natural to ask Sally to be our ambassador for this special event.
The Hip Hip Hooray Capsule is available in store only.
The boutique is located 6701 Snider Plaza Dallas, Texas.
Opening hours :
Mon - Fri, 10am - 5pm
Saturday, 10am - 3pm
Our regular Charlotte sy Dimby collections are available online and can be shipped worldwide.
Our sizes are standard. For more details please check our size guide.
To learn more about Sally Gates, click here.
To view all her portraits in our dress, click here.
To book a portrait, visit her official website.
]]>To learn more about Kristen, her love of France and discover additional Parisian travelling suggestions as well tips, you can also read her previous article.
Flying in from the US, we arrived early in the morning and took a taxi straight to our apartment. This visit we decided to rent an apartment vs. staying in a hotel. Staying in Paris more than a week with our two young girls, we had anticipated the need for more space. Having separate rooms and our own kitchen was indeed much appreciated and allowed us to rest after our busy days exploring the city. Having a local point person welcoming us upon our arrival and checking in on us during our stay was also very reassuring. I recommend Paris for Rent or Haven In to find an apartment to best suit your needs.
We chose a three bedroom flat in the 6th arrondissement on the Left Bank because that is the neighborhood where I lived as a student. I love returning to it annually. It is a very peaceful, family friendly district. Staying close to Jardin du Luxembourg, a favorite garden and playground of ours, was also part of our criteria.
Keys in hand, luggage dropped, we headed out to walk by the river Seine which always feels like the heart of Paris to me. After our stroll, we had lunch at Les Deux Magots. Initially considered as THE place to meet for the intellectual and literary elite of the Left Bank, it is secretly loved by tourists. It is the ideal spot to soak up Paris’ vibes. Watching the Parisians strolling down the boulevard Saint Germain whilst enjoying a tasty bite is a most pleasant experience.
Feeling rather tired, we decided to take the metro back to our apartment (the metro is the underground means of transportation allowing you to get all over Paris). The girls LOVE taking the metro : so mundane to most adults but very exciting to little ones. It is fairly clean but does have a lot of stairs so having a folding stroller is a must!
After unpacking, we walked to our favorite Parisian brasserie in the neighborhood : Café Montparnasse. Our youngest Honor fell asleep in the stroll on the way! It is a great place for a light French meal, the ambiance is cozy and the service pretty fast. They also have a great kids' menu.
Our day began with an unexpected message from L’Île aux Fées (meaning fairy island), the Charlotte sy Dimby childrenswear boutique. Sybille was requesting Elodie to model their famous Princess Charlotte dress! We jumped at the chance, and it was a truly magical experience and a wonderful start to our holiday.
L’Île aux Fées is very close to our hearts. Among the beautiful hand smocked dresses, darling stuffed animals, one feels instantly transported to an enchanted world!
My girls are so fond of this boutique that we visited several times throughout our stay and our youngest daughter said it was her favorite part of the trip because she felt "just like at home" there. And of course we wore our Charlotte sy Dimby dresses all along the trip!
After the photoshoot we all headed to our favorite family retreat : le Jardin du Luxembourg which became part of our daily routine. We visited at least once a day if not more! Entrance to the grounds is free so it was a great and easy way for the girls to burn some energy and be around little Parisians. Not only is it known for its tree-lined paths, beautiful lawns, Medicis Fountain and hundreds of statues including that of the Liberty but also for its kid-friendly activities (there is a nominal fee for those).
The girls have always loved the playground and the carousel and this time we discovered a zip line which was great fun! They also enjoyed picking out their favorite boats and then trying to sail them around Le Grand Bassin.
After all that playing, we were excited to return to one of our favorite local spots for lunch, Bread and Roses. It has a very welcoming ambiance which is highlighted with sweet roses on each table.
They also have an épicerie where you can buy tasty local gourmet products to bring back home. Everything on the menu is delicious but their quiche is perfection! That along with a glass of Sancerre makes me one happy Mommy! Elodie adores the quiche, and our little Honor just loves a fresh baguette with jam. There’s something for everyone!
In the afternoon we did a boat tour on the Seine with Vedettes du Pont Neuf. The cruise is approximately one hour with a guide giving a brief history of each monument (in both English and French) sailed by. It's a great way to get an overview of the city.
We then found the perfect spot to stop for the “goûter” (French children's afternoon snack). La Rose de France located Place Dauphine on Île Saint Louis is a quiet respite from the hustle and bustle of the city. It has a cozy and welcoming atmosphere, the staff is exceptionally friendly both to children and dogs. We enjoyed watching the bocce ball players from our table.
We spent our Saturday in Versailles, it is definitely worth planning a full day to enjoy it properly. We first had lunch at my “French brother’s” home and then spent the afternoon chatting on blankets laid on the grass by the beautiful Grand Canal waters while the children played games. I lived with Charlie’s family 20+ years ago and we have remained friends to this day. After our rest we all had dinner at the most delicious Italian restaurant, Il Cilento, which is right down the street from the château.
We then experienced the Night Fountain Show and Musical Gardens at the Château de Versailles which takes place every Saturday evening in summer. It was a magical experience being able to wander around the illuminated gardens, to discover the fountains lit up in beautiful colors whilst listening to classical music playing in the background. The evening finishes with stunning fireworks. We returned to our apartment around midnight so needless to say we were all tired but thoroughly filled with joy after that most exciting day!
We took a day off from visiting and enjoyed a day just living as a local Parisian soaking in the local ambiance. It was a much-needed rest day for all of us and allowed us to do the basics such as picking up groceries at the local Monoprix, etc. Monoprix are found all over Paris and are the perfect one stop shop.
A favorite of our girls is the delicious French treat “Lulu” chocolate bear cakes. We even bought several boxes to bring home with us! They even have a wonderful selection of wine should you be interested.
It is important when traveling with kids to let them have some down time and having this apartment truly made that easy for us this visit!
Monday’s adventure was to bring the girls to Le Louvre for the first time! We had booked our tickets in advance which I highly recommend otherwise you may end up waiting outside in the sun for 2+ hours.
In order to make the experience a fun one for my 4-year-old, we created a game of “Find Mona Lisa”. The museum has small pictures guiding people along the path to this famous painting. She loved playing detective and eventually finding the star of the show.
After the museum we went across the street and had lunch at Angelina. I always recommend this to friends who visit Paris as it’s known for their famous decadent hot chocolate, yet we had never brought our girls. They were very excited and loved the Belle Époque setting making them feel very grand.
Tuesday morning was dedicated to a Mommy Daughter Chanel Avenue Montaigne excursion with my eldest daughter, Elodie. She accompanied me last year when I purchased my first classic flap bag and was excited to return!
We had a lovely shopping experience and followed that with lunch at L’Avenue. It is great for "people watching" especially when seated by the window overlooking the tree lined avenue and their tuna tartare is delicious!
Since we were in shopping mode, we decided to pick up little sister and Daddy to go to the Le Printemps Haussmann department store. July is the sale month in Paris so it’s a great time to shop and their children’s section carries the cutest lines of clothing.
Bags filled with treasured purchases, we headed up to la Terrasse du 7ème ciel, which is the department store's open-air rooftop terrace. Eric and I enjoyed a cocktail, Elodie a snack and Honor a nap in her stroller... It was nice to enjoy a quiet moment taking in the gorgeous Parisian views.
Having read much about Dior's newest museum I was so happy to finally discover the Galerie Dior with my own eyes. Upon entering the girls were captivated by the three-story colorful display of mini handbags and dresses. My eldest daughter was squealing in delight how everything was sorted so perfectly! They wanted to immediately go up the big white spiral staircase but quickly learned that’s how you exit the exhibit. To begin each family or group takes a private elevator up to the top floor which was a very enchanting way to start this adventure.
After traveling through the dreamy world of Dior we decided to have lunch at the beautiful Plaza Athénée. "Where true luxury is the time and space in which to appreciate creative, incredible food."describes it perfectly!
The girls enjoyed our walk to the metro from the hotel because they could see the Arc de Triomphe in all its glory. We completed this day with a visit to Notre Dame which is closed but still breathtaking. An exhibit allowed us to see pictures of the fire and rebuilding project. With children merely stopping by the sights and taking time to admire is an experience in itself.
Our main activity for Thursday was to visit la Tour Eiffel. This is the first year we bought tickets in advance and let me tell you from now on it’s the only way to go! They are extremely prompt on the timing of it so there’s barely a wait in line.
This is one activity that my husband could pass on seeing as he doesn’t love going to le sommet (the top), but I insist on it each visit and so do the girls. There’s a sense of accomplishment to get through any fears and end up at the top overlooking this stunning city.
While Eric stayed within the enclosed space on the top (this is good to know for anyone who feels okay when inside yet doesn’t like to be outside up high) the girls and I braved the steps to the outdoor tippy top of the Eiffel tower!
To commemorate our bravery I had a "coupe de champagne" and the girls shared "une limonade". We did a cheers “santé” together. This is special memory I will love forever.
Friday was our last full day in Paris, and it was also Bastille Day! We decided to skip the military parade to avoid the crowds and we walked to the Musée d’Orsay instead. All of the streets were closed to cars and filled with military officers making it the most surreal walk! I couldn’t believe we were walking down St. Germain without a single car in sight! It was another gorgeous day with the sun shining and we were able to see the military airshow flying above.
After enjoying the Musée with their great kid's audio and finding Van Gogh’s “A starry night” we enjoyed lunch at the Brasserie Lutetia which is part of the famous hotel. It has a cool art deco vibe and the waitstaff were all extremely friendly and doting on our girls.
Sadly, this was departure day. We were all feeling so blessed and grateful for this beautiful family vacation in the city that we all love. This trip was filled with so many firsts for our girls and their desire to use the French language as best they can melts my heart. The best gift we can give our children is that of traveling and learning about different cultures.
I will end with my favorite quote about Paris “To be Parisian is not to be born in Paris, it is to be reborn there.”- Sacha Guitry
To receive personalised tips for your Paris trip or have a special map/illustrations made, please contact the Charlotte & Burlington family club by email at info@charlottesydimby.com or on Instagram @charlotteandburlington. You can join the club by clicking here too.
Read more articles about Paris and France
Follow Kristen and her family on Instagram @kristenbabsmiller
]]>Birthday parties are one of childhood’s most important moments. We all wish our children to have a joyful and fun celebration, to create life lasting memories and to make the day ultra special.
The “Princess theme” is definitely one of the most popular worldwide! Influenced by fairy tale books and Disney movies, every little girl dreams of becoming a princess and the most special time for this, is of course her birthday! Here is a before and after party checklist which is suited to all princess parties. A few essential tips gathered by mums based on their experiences.
]]>The “Princess theme” is definitely one of the most popular worldwide! Influenced by fairy tale books and Disney movies, every little girl dreams of becoming a princess and the most special time for this, is of course her birthday! Here is a before and after party checklist which is suited to all princess parties. A few essential tips gathered by mums based on their experiences.
Invitations :
Outfits :
Decor :
A princess party would not be complete without :
Les Petits has everything in one place for a Princess Theme Birthday Party.
Last but not least make sure your camera or phones are charged and have space for lots of photos.
Photos :
Make sure to go through all the photos and save them in an easy to find file. You will love looking back at them!
Thank you note :
Thanking your guests for their presence and expressing your gratitude through a written card or just an email is always appreciated.
Easy to navigate, beautifully presented and offering a wide variety of children’s specialist brands in the party including the famous Meri Meri, we highly recommend Les Petits for your party planning.
To find the perfect dress for your child, do not hesitate to contact us by email at info@charlottesydimby.com
We would be thrilled to make your wish come true. With new arrivals every month, the perfect dress is definitely waiting for you.
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- Marcel Proust
It all began last summer with an impromptu invitation. It was the final day of our very first family trip to France & I received a message on Instagram from Charlotte sy Dimby with an invitation to visit her boutique, L'Île Aux Fées. We happened to be at Luxembourg Gardens that day, which is very close to the boutique, as Arya & Ayla wanted to sail boats around the Grand Bassin there. After sailing boats & grabbing a delicious lunch at the Mademoiselle Angelina tea room located in the park, we began our journey to L'Île Aux Fées. When we arrived, we were greeted with the warmest welcome from Charlotte as we entered the truly enchanting space she has created. Arya & Ayla immediately went up to one of the displays & began picking out a few small treasures for our journey home. I only wish we’d had more room in our luggage, as there were so many beautiful items to choose from!
Since then, it fills me with joy to say that I now consider Charlotte to be one of my dearest friends & sources of inspiration! We speak nearly every day & have collaborated on several occasions to create bespoke dress designs for Arya & Ayla, including the blue dresses they are wearing throughout this post. While planning our most recent trip to France, I reached out to Charlotte & she had the wonderful idea to work with the incredibly talented artist, Madeleine Hall, to create a map featuring the five places we would be visiting on one of our special days in Paris. In the end, we came up with a way to document what Arya & Ayla lovingly refer to as our “map day” that was interactive, beautiful, & educational along the way.
Without further ado, here are the five child friendly activities we did on our special “map day” in Paris!
To receive personalised tips for your Paris trip or have a special map/illustrations made, please contact the Charlotte & Burlington family club by email at info@charlottesydimby.com or on Instagram @charlotteandburlington. You can join the club by clicking here too.
To see more detailed pictures read the article straight on Victoria's blog Gardenia Grove.
Follow Victoria on Instagram : @gardeniagrove @aryaandayla
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"Paris is always a good idea" : Groovy and her mum Marisa fully agree. Read all about their special bond with the City of Lights and numerous adventures in the capital. Find inspirations on what to visit, where to shop, where to stay and where to eat for your next family trip to Paris with children.
I have been madly in love with Paris since I first visited at the wide-eyed age of 22. The beauty, romance and glamour of the city have always entranced me. In recent years, however, Paris has taken on new depth and meaning.
When my daughter Groovy turned four (she is now eight) we began taking regular Mommy/Daughter weekend trips, slowly exploring the city together. I am rediscovering old haunts through her eyes as well as exploring new places. Paris offers an endless source of experiences and has so many hidden gems.
My daughter has a real sense of curiosity and is always on the lookout for wonder. This makes our adventures all the more fun. For us Paris is a constant moveable feast of art, beauty and food.
We usually travel for the weekend since there is a perfect direct flight on Friday afternoon from Palma de Mallorca, where we live, that returns on Sunday evening. This allows us a full two days in Paris.
On Saturdays, we like to stick to our favourite traditions and then spend the second day exploring a new neighborhood going to an exhibit or attraction we have never visited before.
We have stayed in different parts of the city, but our favorite place to stay is at Hôtel Bel Ami in the Saint Germain des Prés neighbordhood on the Left Bank. We start the day with breakfast at the hotel (or possibly Café de Flore sitting outdoors watching the city wake up and soaking in the Parisian ambiance).
We then visit the Musee d’Orsay or Musee de l’Orangerie to admire the Impressionist works of art. Groovy was very proud to wear her Monet inspired dress for the occasion. It is slightly hidden under the coat but you can catch a glimpse of the floral print.
We then make our way into the Jardin des Tuileries for a walk. The carousel there is our favorite in Paris, and Groovy always makes a friend or two on the playground just next to it.
After this, we run a few errands and shop, always with a stop to buy macarons at Ladurée. A stop for hot chocolate and madeleines at Angelina is a must as well.
For lunch we like to head back over the river to Saint Germain. Being Americans living abroad, I am not ashamed to admit that our favorite lunch destination on our first day is Ralph’s.
After lunch we head over to the Jardin du Luxembourg to play with the wooden boats and visit the incredible playground there.
Then it is, of course, a short walk to your beautiful (and our favorite) shop - L’Ile aux Fées. It’s a must for every visit and something we greatly look forward to. I will never forget the first time we visited and how special you made Groovy feel.
We also came with some of our dearest friends who are almost sisters to Groovy! We had to get matching dresses of course.
My niece, Delphine, just got to experience this for the first time as well, and my sister said she was over the moon. Your dresses have become tradition with our family and friends.
Groovy loves visiting you and discovering the personalised welcome message which always awaits her.
She also loves the tradition you have started of letting her pick a quote and writing it on the window to inspire bypassers. And of course, she enjoys picking out a new dress.
After a wonderful visit to your boutique we always head to the children’s department at Le Bon Marché (the best in the world, in my opinion) and then back to the hotel for a rest.
On Saturday evening, we always go to Hotel Costes for dinner, the table by the fireplace is our favorite.
Sunday involves exploring the city and doing new things. We always appreciate the information you send us on new or special exhibits and seasonal activities. The Frida Kahlo exhibit at the Fashion Museum Palais Galliera was spectacular, as was the Dior Gallery.
This most recent trip in March we explored Montmartre in the morning with visits to the Sacré-Coeur Basilica and the Love Wall followed by lunch at Chez Prune on the Canal Saint-Martin to search for Kylie the Crocodile. It is the character from one of Groovy’s favorite books based in Paris by Oliver Gee & Lina Nordin Gee. We did not find her on this trip, despite walking the length of the canal to the Seine... We will have to plan another trip and search even better next time!
We are already dreaming of our next visit to see you in the Fall, and talking about the places we wish to go. Planning is part of the fun of these adventures together! The Palais Garnier, hopefully for a performance, is definitely next on our list…
My advice would be to not plan too much. The beauty of Paris is walking along the Seine, spending time in the parks (and on the many carousels) and people watching in the many amazing cafés.
Read more articles about Paris and France
Follow Marisa and Groovy on Instagram
Learn more about our Parisian boutique L'Île aux Fées
To receive personalised tips for your next trip to Paris, please send an email to info@charlottesydimby.com
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Nothing makes us happier than seeing our dresses worn by sweet princesses. Thank you so much for sharing your gorgeous pictures and taking part in the Charlotte sy Dimby magic. Thank you for all your compliments and kind words! These testimonials warm our hearts.
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Twinkle from South Carolina in our pink and white striped dress
"We cannot get enough Charlotte Sy Dimby, our favorite designer! Twinkle loves to twirl and play in these gorgeous dresses and we always look forward to what is coming out next. Thank you for making her feel so special in these perfectly made dresses!"
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Ingrid from Utah in our striped Eiffel Tower smocked dress
It’s hard to put to words how truly special these dresses and the women behind them are. They have not only created the most beautifully crafted dresses I’ve ever seen, they have also created an entire magical world where every girl is a princess and every customer a treasured family member. The love and sincerity they bring to every aspect of the experience is utterly unique, not just in the world of retail, but in the world, period! I’ve never experienced anything quite like it anywhere else, and am so grateful to have discovered, and been warmly welcomed into the Charlotte sy Dimby family. They live to make dreams come true and spread joy through their work—no request is too big or too small—and all are welcomed as cherished friends. My daughter is just 6 months old but these dresses have already marked special occasions in her life, and there is no one I will trust more to help us mark each special milestone to come. Thank you for creating such a loving and beautiful world for my little princess to grow up in!
Millie from Mentone in our blue Born on Fifth smocked dress
““My daughter and I love dressing her baby girl in your Charlotte sy Dimby dresses! We love their exquisite smocking, excellent workmanship and material, but mostly the way they make our little love look even more precious. We look forward to dressing her in these magical dresses for many years to come! Thank you for making these special dresses!”.”
Arabella from New York in our Blue taffeta smocked party dress
"Charlotte sy Dimby has been such a pleasure and joy to work with since day one! Even if she might be quite busy, she always makes us feel like we are valued and special with a keen eye and attention to detail - and that shows in the quality of her beautiful dresses and relationships with all of her clients! The dresses are all treasures we will keep for generations to come! We love Charlotte sy Dimby and cannot wait to visit her storefront in Paris!"
Taleen from Arlington in our Stripes embroidered Arbor dress
“She calls this her princess dress & I can completely see why! When I first saw this stunning hand stitched dress online, I fell in love. I am so glad to have you on our family journey with us and all your beautiful thoughts. Thank you for making lifetime memories through your children’s clothing.”
Georgina from Denver in our Green Bow embroidery dress
"She was SUCH a doll in your beautiful dress! She was the happiest little girl in the world that day and it made my heart so happy as well. It really was the PERFECT dress for this occasion! Thank you so very much for making it happen and getting the dresses to us on time!! You were a big part of Georgina’s special day."
Elle from the Netherlands in her custom made birthday dress
“Charlotte sy Dimby is every girl’s dream come true. Their collections are always so beautiful, unique and elegant, with all the handmade details. You see all the effort, time and love that is put into every item they make. Also their customer service is unique and actually the best I ever experienced. Nothing is too much and they always take the next step to create what the customer is looking for. They made all Elle’s special dresses, her first Christmas dress, first birthday dress and so on (I am going to frame them in her room once they are too small).”
Stella and Lola from New York in their Spring smocked dresses
"For almost two years now, I have been dressing the girls in Charlotte sy Dimby dresses for each of one our special occasions and parties! Each piece is one of a kind. I love the fact they are handmade with love, it means a lot to me. We always make magical photo shoots creating beautiful souvenirs. We have created such a special relationship with this brand… A dream come true! Always a source of inspiration!"
Isabelle from New York in our velvet Christmas at the Grand Palais smocked dress
“Your dresses are extremely special so it means so much to both of us to be able to add another one to Isabelle’s collection. Thank you for always making such timeless keepsakes! We are both over the moon! They are just gorgeous!”
Kaho from Tokyo in our Swallow print smocked dress
"We purchased one of your dresses and my daughter wore it yesterday for her birthday party!!! It was just perfect! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING IT HAPPEN! We will always cherish the memory associated with this adorable dress!"
Portrait of Gigi in our pink Trianon smocked dress by the child photographer Elizabeth Pettey
“A daughter is just a little girl who grows up to be your best friend. Wearing a classic smocked dress by Charlotte sy Dimby has something magical & timeless about it which reminds me of the way my mama used to dress me as a little girl!”
Emma from Houston in our pink Cerise dress with Georgia smocks
"I received the dresses and they are a dream!! I am speechless! Beautiful dresses! I can’t wait for Emma to wear them. I always admire all your dresses and keep them all in our very special wardrobe with our favorite pieces!"
Groovy from Spain in our pink Netti smocked dress
“Thank you for always putting a smile on Groovy’s face. She wears your dresses for everything - special events and birthdays, but also climbing trees, running and dancing with friends. Your dresses are beautiful and timeless and so well made. They are by far our favorite - especially when accompanied by a trip to see you at the shop in Paris!”
Ivy Rose from the Netherlands in our Moon and star organza party smocked dress
"This dress is so dreamy, we love it so much! Thank you for making every special moment even more special with your beautiful handmade and unique dresses!"
Lila from Greenville in our red tartan Christmas smocked dress
“Lila has had a lot of nice clothes on her over the past two years but never one as gorgeous and well made as this one!!! The other dress she will be getting for Christmas! It is so beautiful you should be very proud of your gorgeous pieces of art!”
Lily from Mississippi in our Satin cotton Amandine smocked dress
"It is truly spectacular! It’s just really, really lovely. I knew it would be pretty and nice, but it’s hands down the nicest dress I’ve ever felt. I can tell someone designed and made it themself! I have so genuinely loved getting to know this wonderful company."
Scoti from Charlotte in our velvet Pont Alexandre III embroidered dress
“The quality of this dress is simply superb! The fabric is so lush and the lining keeps its shape perfectly! I look forward to making many more memories clothed in your collections!”
Arabella from Los Angeles in her blue Cerise dress with pink bow embroideries
"I certainly see why the royals and celebs alike buy their princesses these stunning handmade, one of a kind dresses. If you’re looking for something special for your lil sunshine or as a gift, you won’t be disappointed!"
Chloë from Mozambique in her Illusion print Amandine smocked dress
“Charlotte Sy Dimby is more than just a brand. It is a beautiful community, spreading love and joy through timeless clothes, heavenly dresses and words that touch your heart. It was by coincidence that I came across this amazing brand and has definitely grown to be my absolute favourite and number one choice for special occasions.”
Maya from Nashville in our blue Bow bouquet smocked dress
"Thank you very much. I love how Maya felt like a little queen twirling in that dress. It’s the best feeling as a mom seeing my daughter happy in her precious outfit! And matching with her sweet doll is truly the best! Ever so sweet!"
Portrait by Natalie Erwin of a beautiful child in our Lavender blue Cerise dress with Glycine smocks
“We absolutely love the dress! Such a beautiful blue. We hope to use another one of your dresses for our second daughter’s portrait as well!”
Tea at the Plaza Hotel New York with Kate in her velvet smocked dress
"These dresses are so precious; I don’t even buy Kate dresses from anywhere else anymore. They don’t hold the candle next to yours!"
Frazier from Mississippi in her handmade Velvet Elise outfit
“The dresses are just absolutely gorgeous with an eye for detail that is rarely seen. We keep adding to her growing collection! I know I can always count on you to create the most beautiful things. I appreciate the dress lining. Nobody else takes such care in the making of them and it just shows what high quality you have committed yourself to.”
Rhytts Hackney from Virginia in our Amandine Vintage smocked dress
"The dresses are exquisite, and the quality is unsurpassable. I’ve never witnessed better customer service, the team goes above and beyond to make sure you are pleased."
Chiara from Italy in her fir green Amandine smocked dress
“These garments have the power to make me travel back to my childhood and to revive very dear memories: my grandmother’s couture (back at the time when ready-to-wear did not exist in Brasil) and the love of fabrics of my grandfather ( who made it his job).”
Amelie from London her Christmas Coral red velvet smocked dress
"Because it’s her first Christmas, the dress code had to match the impressive event, therefore this gorgeous velvet dress was the most obvious choice. The attention to details is simply remarkable, I knew it would be a special one ever since I first opened the package."
Gabrielle in our Cerise smocked dress with pink Fabrice smocks
“Our ‘Little Miss G’ (Gabrielle) wearing one of your stunning creations. On the occasions she has worn the dress, she has had many positive comments regarding the design, material, quality and beautiful workmanship. We proudly name you and would recommend your clothing to others. Thank you from one happy customer.”
Penny from the Netherlands in our Netti smocked dress
“I cannot recommend Charlotte sy Dimby enough; from their attentive customer service to their impeccable smocked dresses, they are truly the epitome of high-quality classic children’s fashion. Every little girl needs at least one of these heirloom dresses in their wardrobe!”
“My niece just had her first baby. The new mom received many nice presents but insists that this Princess Charlotte smocked dress is her favorite!” - Bill - Moretown, Vermont, USA
"The dresses are GORGEOUS! Thank you very much for all your efforts and wonderful job! You really helped our ceremony to be even more magical, as my older daughter said and earned two new loyal customers!" - Katerina from Greece
To read more of our testimonials from our darling clients follow our Instagram page or read our “Happy Christmas princesses” page.
Don’t hesitate to send us your photos at info@charlottesydimby.com or to share on Instagram. It is always a joy to see our dresses worn!
Sharing a passion for bows, all things pink and pearls, we have created a special dress for Madison’s birthday inspired by Brittany’s beautiful aesthetic. Discover the story of the design and read about the celebration.
Charlotte : Can you please introduce yourself?
Brittany : Hello from Paradise Valley, Arizona where we moved to three years ago after living in the San Francisco Bay Area. We are a family of five. My daughter named Madison is turning 4. My husband Matt and I also have two sons, MJ (age 10) and Max (age 7).
I would describe our family style as traditional with a love for dressing up. During Covid, we would have formal meals in our dining room. Our children have thus come to appreciate the art of dressing up as they have noticed that they always receive compliments for sharp attire. It has also given them self confidence.
Charlotte : How did you first discover our brand?
Brittany : I was first introduced through Emily Hertz, founder of Born on Fifth in September 2019. I instantly fell in love with the couture like process that is involved in the making of every dress and the intricate details, such as the smocking and beautiful bow and pearl embroidery that are just not seen very often in today’s day in age.
Charlotte : Can you present your blog and how it came to be?
Brittany : Back in 2018 when I found out that I was expecting a little girl after two boys, I was so excited that I started scouring the internet to find all of the fabulous girl outfits I had ever seen. Meanwhile, people would always ask me where I shopped for my boys, so I was constantly sending people links via email.
I decided to put all that positive energy towards a passion project and launched my first blog Preppy Little Ones. Covid happened shortly thereafter and I felt guilty posting frivolous posts about fashion and took a bit of a hiatus.
Almost three years to the day of starting my blogging journey, I rebranded and launched Brittany Anna Rose. As a mother and an entrepreneur, I have always had a passion for fashion and all things elevated. I am known to say that I have a high standard for everything from love and manners to tabletop and home interiors to fashion and children’s wear and everything in between.
My blog is made of two majors parts : The High BAR which are curated items that pass my highest standards and tend to be investment pieces and The Side BAR. These are items reflecting the current trends and packing the same punch at more affordable price points. My goal is to bring exciting new finds from every price range.
I also feature interviews via The Low Down with the goal of elevating and supporting other women. My motto is "be a fountain and not a drain!"
Charlotte : Pink, bows and pearls are your signature, what do they mean to you?
Brittany : I have always had an affinity for all three. That is why they are woven into my brand. I was fortunate enough to be introduced to the world of Coco Chanel in my early twenties whilst discovering my own essence. There were two of her quotes that really stood out to me.
"It’s not the appearance, it’s the essence. It’s not the money, it’s the education. It’s not the clothes, it’s the class."– Coco Chanel
"Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance." – Coco Chanel
I personally feel like Chanel reiterated pearls, black and white, bows and pops of pink will never go out of style. I naturally gravitated towards these. They represent my wardrobe and I find tranquility in knowing that I can always revert to those timeless items.
When my daughter was born, I was ecstatic to share my passion and thankfully so far she is also a fan of all things pinks! We also have a saying "No Bow, No Go!"
Charlotte : Can you share about the inspiration behind the dress?
Brittany : It was truly a dream come true to co-create the Madison Dress. I am beyond thrilled with the outcome and so grateful for this magical experience.
The dress is highly symbolic in many ways.
First the fabric. I was inspired by the pink looks of the Chanel Cruise ’23 collection and in particular by my jacket. I love to match with my daughter and wanted something coordinated. Monique, Charlotte sy Dimby's designer set out on a "fabric treasure hunt" and found the perfect pink striped organza. It was exactly what I envisioned for a standout party dress.
Then bows! Since Madison's very first birthday I carry on a tradition passed down by her grandmother. Every year I gift her a 5-piece China set (complete with a tea pot). Charlotte sy Dimby handstitched bows look almost identical to the china decor. I instantly knew they had to be part of the design.
As mentioned above I also love pearls. I was thus delighted when I learnt the team could adorn the smocks with pearls.
Charlotte : Can you tell us about the accessories which you picked to style the dress?
Brittany : L’Amour shoes were the very first shoes I bought Madison so I have always had a soft spot for them. It felt only natural to select one of their designs for the party. I chose the Josie Scallop Sandals. They are perfect for our warm weather and the bow detail instantly spoke to me.
For the hair bow, I chose a pearl monogrammed bow from @winn_and_william which can be found here. It matched beautifully and added a fancy touch.
And a party would not be complete without a party hat. Storybook Goods' pink hat with a bow and embroidery was just what we needed for the event.
This particular monogrammed party hat is something we have used to mark the occasion of each of Madison’s birthdays, and is certainly something we treasure.
Details about the dress : The pink and white party dress features precious bow smocking and pearl inserts across the bodice. The pink striped see-through organza skirt and wide frilled collar give a romantic feel to the design. The butterfly bow to tie in the back adds a refined finishing touch. With its triple skirt layer, this dress is perfect for twirling.
The dress can be ordered here
Charlotte : A pretty dress calls for a special party. Can you tell us more?
Brittany : Madison didn’t get to have a proper first or second birthday party due to the pandemic, so we are making up for lost time.
This year it was very clear that pink bows were going to be the main theme for her soiree.
As she is turning four, she very clearly wanted her input to be noticed and thus requested to add in rainbows and unicorns, two of her favorite things. In fact, she asked Santa for a unicorn for Christmas, and his response was to give her a unicorn for a few hours for her birthday. It was THE big treat of this year's party!
We decided on hosting an outdoor tea party for all of her closest friends with lots of fresh flowers.
Charlotte : Can you describe the invitations?
Brittany : The invitations features key highlights of the party : Madison in her dress, the bounce house, the unicorns and balloons. The design was created by the ever so talented Shop Love Lucy. Sweet and girly, they made our little guests very excited!
Charlotte : Can you talk about the party décor and share a few tips?
Brittany : The party décor is centered around the balloons and fresh pink flowers. My biggest suggestion is to make the floral arrangements yourself. In the United States, my favorite place to get flowers is Trader Joes. You can find the prettiest blooms at a very good price that enables you to put together the prettiest bouquets.
I feel very fortunate to have Benedicts Catering to help with organizing the furniture which has quickly become my favorite party décor. Small pink tables and picnic benches are the perfect way for our tiny guests to enjoy their tea in this year's special bow adorned china set.
Charlotte : What type of games did you organize for the children?
Brittany : Our main attractions are riding the unicorn and a bounce house. While I’m not particularly fond of jump houses, I find the ones from Inflate48 to be quite beautiful and enhance our décor. In addition, the four year old crowd seems to be quite smitten with jumping and sliding.
The oversized pink ballon bow from Pop of Color AZ was the main desired feature to tie our theme together and was perfect in every way.
Charlotte : What cakes and treats did you have?
Brittany : The party favors consisted of gluten and dairy free cookies from Bear and the Honey Bakery. Since two of our children have allergies we have to adapt but that does not prevent us from having a tasty party. Instead of tea the children sipped apple juice.
We also had a special unicorn cake by Jewel's Bakery which was a huge success.
Shop Storybook Good party hats
Thank you to all who took part in this magical celebration!
The photos are by the talented @thelaurenstyle
]]>Lauren and her daughter are not only fond of traditional European clothing but also have a deep love for France! What better than a Paris themed party to celebrate Cotton Leigh’s fifth birthday and announce the family’s upcoming trip to the City of Light and Love?
Read all about the beautiful Parisian inspired party and find decor, invitation, outfit and menu ideas for your own celebration.
]]>Read all about the beautiful Parisian inspired party and find decor, invitation, outfit and menu ideas for your own celebration.
THE OUTFIT
For the event, our Charlotte sy Dimby team designed a special Eiffel Tower dress! To make it girly and fancy it had to be pink! And we could not resist adding a bow! It matched Cotton Leigh’s hair grosgrain moonstitch hair bow from Weeones.
The hand embroidered Eiffel tower is inspired by the illustration of the artist Madeleine Hall, founder of Burlington Bear. It was created with a traditional embroidery hoop and required no less than six different thread shades to give it an almost painted effect.
This dress is a unique piece however we have other Eiffel Tower dresses available on our e-shop. See here
THE INVITATION
The invitation was designed by our Charlotte and Burlington family club with Madeleine’s Hall illustrations. Sweet and elegant with macarons, bows and the Eiffel Tower of the dress, it instantly set the tone for the party. The menu card was created in exactly the same style.
To have your personalised cards created by our club, please write an email to info@charlottesydimby.com
THE PARTY ITSELF
The party decor, menu and the hosting of the event were organised by Lauren. In her words :
Before sharing about the party, could you please tell us a little more about your family’s love story with Paris?
Our family's love for Paris was all led by Cotton Leigh. She has had an infatuation with the Eiffel Tower and all things Parisian since she was just two years old. It started when we first watched the movie Leap (also titled Ballerina). The movie takes place in 19th-century France and is set in the capital. This is when Cotton Leigh also found her love for ballet!
Growing up I always knew I would one day go to Paris, but when I saw her love for the city, I just knew the time had come to make that dream come true! So we decided the trip would be her 5th birthday gift! We told her on her birthday and will be going this Spring.
Can you tell us about the party decor?
What does every great Parisian party need…an 8 ft replica of the Eiffel Tower of course! It made for an excellent focal point in our living room. Beautiful flowers lined our mantle to add a nice backdrop for the tower.
All the rest was in Ladurée shades, pastel pink, mint green and a touch of gold. We filled the gorgeous Ladurée bags with flowers and had little golden frames with Eiffel towers, macarons and the such.
Can you describe the menu?
The sweets and treats had to be authentic to the theme. So we had macarons flown in from Ladurée Beverly Hills, California sent from Paris, which are *chefs kiss* oh so good! We also had éclairs, croissants and madeleines from a local bakery.
A beautiful custom made cake was created by Jona at Gracie Cole Sweets & Treats. Cotton Leigh knew exactly what she wanted : she wished a pink cake with an Eiffel Tower on top! And so it was! We also ordered darling cookies with icing replicating the dress’ embroidery.
And was the party like itself?
Cotton Leigh was fully involved in the party preparation. She loved helping to plan it all! She knew a dress was in the works, and that it had the Eiffel Tower on it, but other than that, the dress itself was a surprise. We gave it to her on her birthday - a few days prior to the party, and she immediately hugged it! She couldn't wait to wear it to her party and show her friends! She loved that it matched her party theme so well.
All the girls had a great time just playing and laughing - seeing children enjoying themselves together, smiling at the simplest things brings so much joy to a mother's heart!
Any tips for hosting a children’s party?
Honestly this is way easier said than done, but just have fun and don't stress the little things. The kids will have the best time whether you have a more simplistic party or go all out. Obviously we as parents tend to go overboard sometimes, haha, but as long as you have friends to make you smile, and a good tasting cake, you're well on your way! Oh, and a beautiful dress from Charlotte sy Dimby of course!
Join our family club & follow us on Instagram @charlotteandburlington
Follow Lauren and her family on Instagram
]]>Through our Charlotte sy Dimby community, we have made the most wonderful encounters, you have shown the most beautiful signs of love and kindness through your messages and photos.
The talented artist Shari Ford with whom we collaborate has just lost a daughter and little Eloise, one of our three years old Charlotte sy Dimby princesses, has lost her mum this winter...Yet joy and hope must be stronger!
To celebrate the gift and beauty of life, we invite you to picture your child curtsying and smiling in one of our dresses! Gentle smiles with no teeth showing would be ideal.
A jury will elect one photo to be painted as a small portrait and gifted by Shari Ford.
How to take part :
Please share all your photos on Instagram or by email to info@charlottesydimby.com Feel free to send as many as you like.
On Instagram please tag @sharifordportraits and @charlotte_sy_dimby
The contest is running until the 13th of April 2023 midnight.
For photo tips and advice please contact Shari at info@shariford.com
If you wish to have your child painted by Shari Ford and order a portrait, please contact her directly at info@shariford.com
]]>We have had the question countless times and thought it was time to make our own research to provide answers. Following numerous requests from mothers searching high and low for the perfect miniature doll house for their children, we are delighted to share our favorite high quality authentic ones. Ready made or sold in kits, there is a playhouse for every little child.
]]>Following numerous requests from mothers searching high and low for the perfect miniature doll house for their children, we are delighted to share our favorite high quality authentic ones. Ready made or sold in kits, there is a playhouse for every little child.
Perfect nursery decor or present for Christmas or birthdays, here is a list of options.
This doll house is a unique heritage piece fully renovated by La Française Paris, designer of handmade luxury dolls. Our aim is to suggest alternatives.
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If you are a bit of an artist and enjoy challenges, why not buy a kit and build your own doll house.
Miniature Rose Garden Etsy doll houses
Based in Arizona and shipping worldwide, Susan offers a wide range of doll houses to assemble. They are inspired by the romance of Rachel Ashwell, the elegance of Ralph Lauren, the beauty of the architecture of Paris, New York, Barcelona...
Our favorite may well be the Abigail Victorian house.
Greenleaf has earned a strong recognition in the world of miniatures! Innovator in style and design, the brand offers a wide range of full scale, half scale and laser cut dollhouses as well as miniature furniture and lighting. The brand ships worldwide.
We like the Beacon Hill doll house for a sweet girly style.
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Family owned business, Minimum world offers a great variety of miniature doll houses and adorable home accessories from real working clocks to lighting and tea sets. How to guides with tips and advice are great!
Another reference for luxury doll houses is Dolls House Emporium.
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READY MADE WOODEN DOLL HOUSES
Here are other ready made doll house options.
For classic, simple wooden dollhouses, Bohemian Mama is a good choice. We recommend the Plantoys Victorian doll house with three floors.
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Great favorite, the well established Danish brand reknown for its unique, authentic look, well made toys and most of all sweet bunnies and mice offers a sweet house. Made of fine wood, it features spacious rooms and even has an attic!
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Scandiborn is another good quality trustworthy brand for wooden doll houses.
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The Swedish founded brand offers beautifully crafted, safe and sustainable toys built to withstand the test of time.
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Founded by two passionate mums, Pottery Barn offers a wide array of children's toys including doll houses.
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Multi award brand with traditional doll houses for endless hours of fun play.
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Continue to celebrate the magic of childhood through our chic French style smocked dresses for babies and girls! Add elegance to your nursery decor and parties with precious La Française handmade dolls.
Christmas is the season of the year when the city shines the most. The trees are beautifully lit up, Christmas carols are played in the streets and Christmas markets are held in various places bringing a festive feeling to the capital.
Several chefs hold events for children. Emma loved taking part and making her own gingerbread house. Japan is gradually adopting wonderful Christmas traditions from various countries. It’s fun to bring novelty to our celebrations.
We decorate our home with a Christmas tree and prepare an Advent calendar to count down the days until Christmas.
One of my favorite things to do is make a wreath out of roses and mistletoe from my garden. I enjoy creating handmade decors.
When I was little, my mother used to make delicious buche de noel and spiced cookies to decorate the Christmas tree. To this day, we continue baking cookies together as a family. When the scent spreads throughout the house, we can truly feel the spirit of Christmas! It puts us into such a joyful mood.
This is my recipe :
Cookies (20 pieces)
1. Put the butter, honey, and white sugar in a saucepan and heat until melted, then turn off the heat and allow to cool.
2. Put the flour and salt in a bowl and add the mixture prepared in step 1 with a wooden spoon, then add the egg.
3. Knead the dough with your hands until it is no longer powdery, then wrap it in plastic and leave it to rest in a cool place for a day.
4. Sprinkle a baking sheet with flour (not included) and roll out the dough to a thickness of 5 mm.
5. Press the dough with a mold and brush with egg white.
6. Bake in a preheated oven at 160°C for 20 minutes or 130°C for 5 minutes, depending on the temperature.
Yes, at my daughter's nursery, the mothers make surprise Christmas stockings for their children with presents in them. In December, once my daughter was fast asleep, I would sew stitch by stitch, imagining the joy on my daughter’s face when she would open it... It may be a little different from the original Christmas stocking, but it is so soothing to make and brings me joy!
We also love to dress up in fancy Christmas dresses, wear our red velvet Charlotte sy Dimby dress, pair it with our favourite Verity Jones bows and twirl as much as we can!
Yes, I am very happy to introduce you to the New Year traditions in Japan. We usually do a full house clean up on New Year's Eve and eat toshikoshi soba which is basically a noodle bowl. When soba is made, the dough is cut in a long and slender form, which is said to represent a long and healthy life.
We then listen to the New Year's bell. The temple bell rings 108 times after midnight. With each ring, our worries and sorrows go away leaving space for a fresh new year and beginning. This Buddhist tradition is called Joya no Kane, and it is one of the most important rituals of the year.
And on New Year's morning, we greet one another with the traditional, "Happy New Year" and deliver cards to our friends’ postboxes.
Families and relatives near and far gather to welcome the god of the new year. We all go “hatsumode”. Hatsumode refers to visiting a shrine or temple for the first time to give thanks for the year gone by and pray for the coming onr.
We also put up “kadomatsu” and “shimenawa” at the entrance of our houses. These decorations often made of pine, bamboo and plum trees are meant to prevent bad spirits from entering the house and making them welcoming for the gods of the new year. As an offering to the gods, kagami-mochi, which is made up of large and small rice cakes, is displayed. This is eaten after the New Year, as a way to wish everyone a happy year.
Omikuji fortune telling for the year is also very popular.
There are so many other fun things to do in the New Year's Day in Japan, such as New Year's gifts, kite flying and battledore. When you have a chance to come to Japan, please try them out!
Nowadays, fewer people wear our traditional kimonos for the New Year, but we still wear them for certain special events like Shichigosan which celebrates the growth of children. In Japan, there is a culture of wearing them on special occasions.
What is your traditional new year meal like?The traditional New Year's meal is composed of ozoni and osechi. Ozoni is a soup that contains ingredients such as rice cakes, vegetables, and meat. The recipe varies depending on the region. In the past, when people ate ozoni, it was a way to show gratitude for the safe harvest of the previous year and a prayer for a good harvest to come and the safety of their families.
This is my recipe for ozoni (for 4 persons)
※ Vegetables can be any vegetables as you like.
1. Boil the chicken and vegetables cut into bite-size pieces in soup stock.
2. Grill the rice cakes until browned.
3. Pour dashi stock, light soy sauce and salt into a pot and bring to a boil.
4. Put the pre-boiled chicken, vegetables, and rice cake into soup bowls and pour the dashi over the top.
5.Finish with mitsuba , yuzu peel and salmon roe.
Osechi is a variety of food packed in a bento box. Each one has a special symbolism such as "gratitude", "joy", "celebration"... For example, black soybeans have the meaning of praying for good health, kurikinton for saving money, and clams and abalone for good connections.
Thank you for this beautiful article and thank you to Yumiko from Verity Jones Japan for your help for the translation.
Verity Jones founded in London offers fine handmade British bows in a wide palette of colours and sizes designed by the tasteful and elegant Julia Jones. A wide range of these gorgeous accessories are available in Japan straight through Verity Jones Japan. The Japanese ones have a special V embroidery adding a refined finishing touch.
The article in Japanese can be found here.
Follow Mai & Emma on Instagram : @emma20181205
Follow Verity Jones Japan on Instagram : @verityjonesjapan
Shop our smocked dresses (We ship worldwide)
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Sofìa now lives in Malàga on the Spanish shores of the Mediterranean ocean with her daughter Isabel and her husband. In this article, they share about the traditions of both countries as well as their very own ones.
It is usually said that Puerto Rico has the longest Christmas season in the world and I believe this is true! The holiday season begins right after Thanksgiving and hardly stops until mid January. We begin our Christmas shopping and there are then parties every weekend right until the third week of January, yes, January next year!
We don’t get to wear the cosy winter knits clothes due to the high temperatures but it is nice to enjoy lovely weather while we celebrate.
Under the sunshine we still wear the traditional holiday colors : green, white, red, gold and we love a lovely classic tartan!
Even if our weather is warm and tropical meaning we never have snow, we like to recreate a cold wonderland! There are Christmas trees and winter decorations everywhere! We even have snow machines releasing soap and water to look like snow!
We also have many light shows and festive decorations everywhere, the ones in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico’s colonial capital, are particularly famous.
Christmas carols are a big thing during the festive season! In Puerto Rico, they are called "parrandas" and in Spain they are named "villancicos de navidad". The idea is to gather all together at night with lots of instruments and sing our classic Christmas songs! We will creep in silently to our neighbors’ or friend’s homes and surprise them by dancing and singing! It's very joyful and merry!
In Puerto Rico, we have rice with gandules which is a kind of lentil. It is served with pork pasteles, which is plantain paste filled with pork and folded in banana leaves! Strange as it may seem, it is delicious. For dessert, we have tembleque, a coconut-based jelly-like sweet treat.
All the cafés are decorated and we love to eat out. One of our favourites is the Café del Niño in Old San Juan which is very family friendly. After feeding our friends the pigeons and taking in the best view of San Juan Bay, we always make sure to stop by!
We celebrate Three Kings’ Day on the 6th of January. It is actually a tradition coming directly from Spain in honor of the three Kings that went to visit Jesus when he was born. That morning, everyone in the family receives gifts that the Three Kings brought during the night. The children leave water and grass for the camels in a box prepared and decorated the day before. We also put coquito, a Puerto Rican eggnog made with coconut milk, condensed milk and rum for the Kings. This is one of my favorite traditions because it encourages creativity. It is fun for kids to decorate the boxes for the grass with messages and drawings.
After this celebration comes yet another one called “Las octavitas”! It lasts eight days. We typically throw parties and sing a lot! To end the festive season, we have a musical jubilee with lots of colors and fun decorations. It is called las Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián or la SanSe.
Spain has typical Roman-Catholic Christmas traditions, we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ on the 25th of December.
On Christmas Eve (Noche Buena in Spanish) families gather for a big dinner after or before Mass. Many often go out to a pre-dinner with friends and enjoy a walk around the city to see the Christmas lights. Obviously, we go to bed early because we must wait for Papá Noel (Santa Clause). The next day, we open gifts and stay at home. It is a calmer Christmas than in Puerto Rico.
Like in Puerto Rico, we also celebrate Three Kings Day, it’s actually almost a bigger event than Christmas. We have a first round of gifts on the 5th of January, “Three Kings Eve”. We then go to see the “Cabalgata de los Tres Reyes Magos”. This is a big parade, where the streets are closed and the Three Kings from Orient, and their page children, throw chocolate and candy to the spectators. It is incredibly fun and picturesque. Every town in Spain has their special customs so each one is unique. On the 6th we open gifts from the Three Kings again.
Madrid is particularly special at Christmas. On Serrano Street, all the high-end boutiques decorate their window displays and the lights illuminate the entire town.
The Botanical gardens feature incredibly beautiful light show to admire at night!
We also love to stroll in the Christmas market to get into the Christmas spirit! You can find all sorts of pretty presents, handmade craftsmanship and the loveliest floral decors.
In Spain, we normally begin our dinner enjoying langostinos or gambas (different shrimp species), coquinas (miniature clams), cured cheese, cured Spanish Iberian ham and other cured sausages.
Typically, our second course may consist of either a fish plate or lamb and we finish off with turron as dessert. This almond nougat comes in a great variety of flavors, ranging from chocolate, rum with raisins, yogurt but the most traditional flavor is prepared with honey, sugar, egg whites and toasted almonds.
We also appreciate Mantecados, a very sandy cookie often eaten with anis or other dessert liquors.
This year we will spend Christmas in Puerto Rico.
Loyal to our tradition, my mom and I will go on a last minute “elf run” to the stores for any magical last-minute gifts that might pop up. We go super early on the 24th to avoid getting caught up with the swarm of people. We will then prepare my parent’s home where all the family gathers for our Christmas Eve party. It is my personal favorite day of the year, it's so crisp and magical, I can feel the excitement, the eagerness, the joy all around.
We are incredibly grateful because this year will be extra special; for the first time after COVID all my family will gather. This is exciting because some of my family members have not had the opportunity to meet Isabelita, and they will this year.
On the 25th, we will open gifts that Santa Claus left under the tree. We’ll then spend the morning at home cuddling and playing with our new presents and doll too. She is called Madeline and was my favourite as a child! My mum preciously kept and I have passed it down to my daughter.
During the afternoon, we’ll visit friends for an afternoon coffee and rest after the super hectic day before.
But the party does end there! We will keep our tree up much longer!
In our home our favourite holiday treats to enjoy all throughout the season are red velvet cupcakes and coquito, a mix of American and Puerto Rican influences. In my opinion the best red velvet cupcake recipe is from Martha Stewart, they have the perfect amount of sweet paired up with the cream cheese frosting, they are delicious.
For Coquito I have my own recipe which I will share below.
Ingredients:
Instructions:
To garnish: Sprinkle a touch of ground cinnamon over the drink
Glass type: Short
Lúpili Design Shop was born out of a personal need to share beautiful lovingly made creations for babies, children and homes; for you or for someone special. Ever since childhood, I have always enjoyed creating and gifting, be it jewelry, pastel drawings, watercolor paintings, combining outfits and even baking (yes I had a baking shop in my early 20s which I had to leave to go to law school). After I became a mom, I realized that Spain lacks personalized textile options for children so I decided to take things into my own hands and opened my own embroidery design shop.
My wish is to allow my passion to bring joy to others through authentic, unique, one-of-a-kind items. My main goal is to make your very own dreams come true.
Follow Sofìa on Instagram : @sofisouf
Learn more about Christmas in Puerto Rico
Isabelita's checked dress is a Charlotte sy Dimby creation
We usually begin mid November by getting small trees out for the kids’ rooms.
George, who just turned 3, had his very first one last year. It is a particularly sentimental one with many special ornaments : his first pair of shoes, a single shoe of his that lost its mate, a porcelain little boy figurine given to my husband from his grandmother in 1983, then the oldest thing of all...a silver barrel bank that has Seth’s Grandfather’s, Seth’s Dad, Seth’s & George’s name & birth dates engraved on it, dating all the way back to 1912.
We then decorate the living room tree and place the nativity set on the coffee table. The girls take great pride in getting each piece set just right.
And for the last couple years, we have saved the Christmas train to pull out on Christmas Eve. It is a fun little surprise for Christmas morning!
In central Arkansas, one of the best places to go to get in the holiday spirit is The Capital Hotel.
The magnificent tree in the lobby is perfect for photos and the life size gingerbread house always delight the children. The girls make sure to bring their gingerbread purses to match!
They also love writing their list to Santa in his big book and of course sending him letters! As you can imagine, they always want to sit on the nice chair and not the naughty one!
This year, we were also able to enjoy a December trip to Charleston with just George and Seth. Christmas in Charleston is a southerners’ dream.
We loved our time at The Charleston Place Hotel. A large train & village in the lobby made George (and Seth) beam with delight.
We all loved the Christmas caroling on a carriage ride and snowfall at the Charleston Place each evening!
The traditional evening treat with cookies & cocoa was lovely too.
And of course, once again we mailed Santa, just in case he had forgotten our wishes!
If we like to make our home festive, Christmas is also about opening our hearts to others. May we never forget the true meaning of Christmas!
We have two special traditions we love to do each year.
The first one is taking treats to our neighbors. During the pandemic we took seasonal smelling soaps tied up with a Christmas tag but last year we were able to do baked goods again.
We usually deliver the Christmas goodies by ringing the door bells. Christmas crack & reindeer treats is our usual tradition to take. We like to use The Big Delicious Life recipe - see here.
Another way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear. Christmas caroling is a second tradition dear to our heart. Bringing cheer to the elderly and those that are shut in helps us all to realize what Christmas is all about!
Our church always does a beautiful evening of Christmas songs, live nativity, reading of the Christmas story & ending the evening with carols by candlelight. The girls sing in the choir & this year there will be an angel choir Jane Claire & Abigail will be in. You can watch it live here.
How do you typically spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day?
On Christmas Eve, we always go over the river and through woods to Honey’s ( my grandmother) house. The past two years we have had to do a drive by Christmas with Honey & Pots waving on the porch but this year will be our first year back to Christmas as usual since Christmas 2019.
Then on Christmas morning, the children always come barreling down the stairs and quickly go to their stockings.
The girls are always so excited to go shopping for each other and exchange gifts after they’ve opened gifts from us. They all exchange their gifts and sometimes giggle when they’ve accidentally picked out the same thing for each other.
We then enjoy a family meal together!
Merry Christmas from our family to yours!
Follow Chelsea's family on Instagram @chelsea_pomeroy
The very first and last photos are by Tracy Hodge Van Dover. Follow her on Instagram @vandoverphoto. The girls and George are wearing Charlotte sy Dimby creations.
Christmas is one of the biggest events of the year in our busy city. The heart of the capital is filled with massive and majestic decorations. The streets and shopping malls have amazing Christmas trees and bedazzled lightings everywhere!
Jakarta is so hot you could almost melt so there’s obviously no snow and clearly no cold winter ambiance but it’s still magical!
My family and relatives live all over Indonesia so Christmas and the New Year are a special times of the year to gather all together. Some of us are Muslims and other Christians but the warmth and closeness of family ties is what matters, more than the religion. This is what we celebrate : our love for one another!
We usually enjoy a festive meal in a lovely restaurant or gather in our grandma’s house, eating delicious local foods. We love to have Christmas movie marathon until midnight watching as many as we can!
As a fashion lover, it’s also that time of the year I can finally dress up Keara in Christmas themed dresses! It’s my favorite! It’s my way of showing her how much I care for her and of getting into a festive mood!
Indonesia is famous for its traditional costumes called kebaya. This outfit is often made of precious fabrics and richly ornated. We wear it for weddings but not for Christmas.
In Indonesia we love cookies! The Nastar is my favourite. It’s a butter biscuit with pineapple jam filling.
We also have Putri Salju which means Snow Princess. These are covered with white powdered sugar which explains the name. My grandmother always bakes them for us!
Another treat we enjoy are cheese snacks called Kaasstengels.
We have many Christmas carols. The most famous one sang on Christmas Eve is “Malam Kudus”, its most important message is “Malam Kudus, Sunyi Senyap” meaning embrace the silence to appreciate your blessings. It’s our version of the “Holy Night”.
We call him Sinterklas just like the Dutch! This is due to our colonial history, our archipelago was under the Dutch crown and heavy influence of the Dutch United East India Company.
Our Christmas traditions including that of the Christmas tree are very much inspired by western culture.
Yes! My daughter is a Christmas princess since she was born on the 15th of December. This month is therefore very special to us, it's a double celebration.
We have a 'stay-cation hoping' tradition! Each year, we select a new hotel in which to spend her birthday. We like to change and discover new ones. This year, we are staying at the Four Seasons Jakarta.
Their 2022 Christmas theme is love, light and laughter. At the foot of the Iconic Grand Staircase there is a beautiful Christmas tree decorated with dazzling ornaments and presents underneath. It creates such a warm welcoming!
They have also set up sweet gingerbread houses offering delicious cookies. The biscuits have the sweetest names : Jingle Bells Cookies, Santa’s Elves...
We have enjoyed a lovely afternoon tea as a start and truly appreciate the air of jolly merriment filling the hotel.
Have a great Christmas and New Year Holiday!
For more handsmocking and little girl’s fashion inspirations, follow my Instagram @utiparansih
Book your stay at Four Seasons Jakarta
Read more Christmas around the world articles
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Madeleine Hall and Burlington Bear have co-written a beautiful article about the way they celebrate Christmas in England! Read all about the author and her beloved bear’s traditions. Enjoy a whimsical moment at the Ritz in London.
Burlington : I am a rather dapper bear called Burlington and I live at Number One Piccadilly in London not far from Buckingham Palace. You can learn more about me here.
Madeleine : I live with my husband and our two daughters Aurora and Cosette in the countryside near London. I so enjoy writing children’s stories and illustrating them. One project I am particularly proud of is our collaboration with the beautiful children’s boutique in Paris, Charlotte sy Dimby. Through the Charlotte & Burlington Family Club. I have met many wonderful families and feel inspired to create more adventures for Burlington and now Charlotte too! You are more than welcome to join us. Learn more.
Burlington : I am so excited for Christmas this year because I have invited my dear friend Charlotte, a lovely doll from Paris, to spend Christmas with me.
Madeleine : This year we will be staying at home and I have to say there is nothing more special than waking up in your own bed and seeing the children’s faces when they open their stocking presents. Christmas really is magical when you have two little girls who still believe in Father Christmas!
Apart from Christmas day we are also going to the Royal Opera House to watch the Nutcracker which is a surprise Christmas present for Aurora who loves ballet. Yet the the most exciting experience for us all was meeting Father Christmas last week at the Ritz!
Burlington : My friends and I attend the Christmas Carol service at Westminster Abbey which makes me feel very festive. We then go back to Number One Piccadilly for a large slice of carrot cake and Earl Grey tea and sit by the fire. My friends help me get ready for Father Christmas; we pour a large glass of sherry for him and put a few of Cook's mince pies on a plate with some carrots for the reindeers. I put the tray by the fireplace and then get ready for bed in my favourite tartan Christmas pyjamas. I hang my little red sack at the end of my bed and hope that Father Christmas will come.
Madeleine : I thought this year was about time I started making new traditions so the children have Christmas Eve boxes filled with lovely Christmas nightdresses and homemade magical reindeer food to sprinkle on the lawn to guide the reindeer! Like Burlington we put a glass of sherry out for Father Christmas and homemade mince pies of course and not forgetting the carrots from my Mother’s garden.
I have also purchased a musical advent calendar from Fortnum & Mason which the girls love. It is meant to be an heirloom which they will pass through the generations which I thought was a brilliant idea. They love all the different music with each door and it makes me smile as Fortnum & Mason is my favourite department store in Piccadilly!
Madeleine & Burlington : I think Burlington and I are of one mind on this matter! It was the most unique and memorable occasion. The girls wore their beautiful Charlotte sy Dimby dresses which have an amazing twirl factor! From the moment we arrived at the Ritz we were all made to feel so special, even the adults. There was a very amusing elf who took great care of us and spent ages chatting to the girls.
We were then escorted to the royal suite via a secret staircase and the door opened as if by magic and inside we were greeted by our ‘Family Elves’. The dining room in the suite was beautifully decorated and the children could help themselves to as many sweets on the table as they liked, a rather luxurious pick and mix!
We sipped hot chocolate whilst the elves showed us their special book with the names of the families they look after and of course when the children saw their names Cosette and Aurora written down in the book their excited gasps were just magical.
We were then taken to the next room and the elves asked the girls to whisper their Christmas wishes to a bauble and then hang it on yet another christmas tree to make the wish come true.
The absolute highlight was of course seeing their faces when Father Christmas walked in. He spent what felt like hours chatting to them and gave them a stocking each, two teddy bears which was the best present for the children of someone who writes books about bears! They were also given personalised gifts which were unwrapped very quickly.
On waving goodbye to Father Christmas we were met by a bell boy from the Ritz who helped us down the staircase with all our goodies and into the unusually cold and frosty street!
Visiting Father Christmas at the Ritz was such a unique and elegant experience which I will treasure, without a doubt it made the children’s day but secretly also mine! I could not recommend it enough. Father Christmas was only there from the North Pole for two days and tickets were limited but it is worth trying to get tickets for this incredibly special event if you are ever planning a trip to London in the future.
Learn more about Christmas at the Ritz London
Follow Burlington Bear on Instagram : @burlingtonbear
Learn more about Burlington and all his adventures here
Follow our Family club Charlotte and Burlington on Instagram : @charlotteandburlington
Read more Christmas around the world articles
The girls' red dresses are Charlotte sy Dimby designs
Mount Dora, affectionately called “Someplace Special” is located in central Florida. The town is best known for its antique shops, its array of annual festivals and its many historic buildings which are surrounded by large canopy oak trees.
Holidays around Mount Dora are magical. Our daughters truly enjoy every bit of the many exciting and heartwarming Christmas traditions. Their adventures around town have even inspired us to write a book called “Joy In Mount Dora.”
One of Carly and Ella’s favorite traditions is the Mount Dora Santa Tour! Every year Santa and Mrs. Claus, visit the neighborhoods, with a few of their local friends. On this special day, Santa covers a lot of ground touring the town. Our girls eagerly wait by the window, as they hear the sound of Santa’s sleigh getting closer and closer to our home. The town works arduously to ensure that the children enjoy a wonderful Christmas season, and that’s what makes Mount Dora, Florida truly “Someplace Special.”
Another significant part of our traditions, is visiting the famous Walt Disney World Life Size Gingerbread House, located within The Grand Floridian Resort. Visiting the iconic Gingerbread House is a quintessential holiday-time experience. The Gingerbread House is made with REAL gingerbread. You can even watch the clouds of cinnamon come out of its chimney.
Best of all, when you visit the Gingerbread House, there are a variety of holiday treats available for purchase, including the individual shingles used to construct this elaborate display.
Among the many special details that make this a truly magnificent exhibit, you can spot an almost 100 pound chocolate Santa, hand-painted candy canes, and many hidden Mickeys.
There is no confection that quite captures the spirit of the season like gingerbread. It is a staple in the United States, and a beloved tradition in our home.
As the delicious cookies bake in the oven, the aroma of the sweet and warm spices spreads through our house and brings a delightful sense of comfort.
That wonderful cookie savor reminds us of sweet childhood memories at Christmas and of being surrounded by our loved ones. The best part of this tradition is being able to share our cookies with family, friends and neighbors.
We typically bake our gingerbread cookies a few days before we deliver them. The girls help mom and dad by packaging the cookies and adding a pretty ribbon. Our tradition has become a special one for loved ones, as every year they excitedly look forward to this delivery.
We use the Love From The Oven Gingerbread Cookies recipe : the most delicious and simple one I’ve ever made.
It is also a true honor for our beautiful daughters Carly and Ella, to be a part of the stunning production by Lake Ballet's The Nutcracker, a most beloved traditions in our hometown.
This year, they will once again perform as angels alongside the Sugarplum Fairy - in The Land of The Sweets. We are thrilled beyond words.
The Christmas season for us is about making time for what matters most : spending time with our loved ones. For a part of the season, we travel within the state of Florida as well as to other states within the US to visit grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
Our Christmas visits are filled and brimming with delicious foods, gift exchanges, photographs and a lot of love.
Traditionally, the grandparents take on the labor of love that are the big Christmas meals, for the whole family to enjoy. As a Puerto Rican - Korean family living in the US, our Christmas meals consist of a blend of cultures with great Latin influence.
We typically enjoy a big bowl of delicious arroz con gandules (rice and peas). This is best served with another Puerto Rican classic, roasted pernil (roasted pork shoulder). And who can resist a big slice of dreamy, creamy caramel flan (custard)? Our gingerbread cookies are often a part of the dessert menu.
One of our favorite things about Christmas is decorating our tree. Over the years, we have accumulated ornaments that have a special memory associated with them. It is always fun to go through our ornaments and remember the special times as we decorate the tree!
We like to make our custom keepsake. Here is how to make your own ones!
MATERIALS NEEDED
TOOLS NEEDED
INSTRUCTIONS
This year Daniel and I celebrated our anniversary in the most special way. We were able to bring to fruition one of our dreams. WE HAVE A BOOK! Together we became a Children’s Book Author, and a Children’s Book Illustrator. We are absolutely thrilled!
We are looking forward to this wonderful adventure!
The book can be purchased at Barnes and Noble or on Amazon.
May the Christmas season fill you with a sense of childlike wonder, and envelope you in the comfort of family, friends, and faith.
Follow the Melick family on Instagram : @themarvelousmrsmelick
Read more Christmas around the world articles
The girls pink smocked dresses are Charlotte sy Dimby designs
It is time to start spreading Christmas joy! We are renewing our Pen Pal adventure! Sign up to be put into contact with another family/child.
This year we have teamed up with a French bilingual school in Paris to create bonds worldwide.
You are all invited, there is no age limit or boundary. If you think your child is too young to take part, you can sign up as a family. Adults are welcome too.
It's entirely free and the only requirement is respect and kindness. Once you engage in this adventure, we trust you to make contact with your pen pal and nurture a beautiful relationship.
All you need to do is fill in the Pen Pal form for us to make groups.
Once you have signed up, we will create meaningful pairs based on the information you have provided and your preferences.
You will then receive fun templates to use as guidelines or inspiration. You can fill in just a few pages, write your own letter or innovate entirely. You can decide to send them by email to your friend or use proper mail.
We have created fun Christmas templates to allow you and your Pen Pal to discover how each of you celebrates the holiday season.
We have a first get to know one another template. DOWNLOAD HERE
A second one focused on Christmas. DOWNLOAD HERE
This Christmas template is composed of :
To receive all our content, we invite you to become part of the Charlotte and Burlington family. Click here to learn more and join us.
To bring light to the world during the Fall/Winter season, we invite you to take part in our latest photo challenge with the talented artist Shari Ford!
Photograph your child in a Charlotte sy Dimby dress using the light from a window or door and get the chance to win an impressionist painting made from your entry.
THE WHY
As cooler days arrive, days tend to grow shorter and sunlight becomes rarer. In a world challenged by much turmoil, our inner lights may be tempted to waver. Yet “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” - John 1:5
Together, through the celebration of childhood beauty and innocence, may we glow bright all season and spread the light! Let your joy shine!
WINNER’S GIFT :
The winner will receive an impressionistic painting with the submitted photo as a reference from Shari Ford. The painting will be 11” x 14” or a comparable size, depending on the composition of the picture.
The portrait will be similar style to those of the previous contests : see here.
TIME FRAME :
The contest runs until the 1st of January 2023.
STEP BY STEP GUIDE :
TIPS FOR TAKING GREAT PHOTOS WITH WINDOW LIGHT :
CAMERA
Photos should be taken with a camera if possible, preferably with a telephoto or portrait lens to reduce distortion and improve image quality.
POSITIONING
Stand as far away as possible, zooming in to get the shot.
Turn your subject sideways so they are not turning their back to the window/door. Their bodies can even be facing it. You just have to go to the side, and not directly face the window. That will make sure some light is falling on their face, and that your camera isn’t getting too much of the outside light in the frame.
Getting your subject from the side and not including the whole window in your frame is often easier.
A three-quarters pose can be very pretty too.
LIGHT
Indirect light, as opposed to the sun shining through the windows, is usually best.
Side lighting is often the best. Choose a day and time that is sunny, between 10 and 2pm is usually best. You’re not actually going to have the light directly on your subjects, so the stronger the light, the better the indirect light. It’s the indirect light which you need to look for : a soft one without hard shadows.
Pay attention to how the shadow falls on faces. A north facing window should always work, but just use one without light streaming in when you’re photographing. The face is an essential aspect and plays an important role in the jury’s decision.
Turn off your lights. Your indoor lights, though they may claim to be “natural”, will not be the same temperature as the natural light from outside. Mixed lighting rarely makes for good images. Also, your lights may be at unflattering angles such as straight down from above.
For more tips on how to best photography your child watch our videos.
For more inspiration look at our previous contests.
PROFESSIONAL PHOTOS
Professional photos are accepted with the permission of the photographer, who will receive recognition for their work. You can also ask a friend with a good eye for photos.
Please feel free to share about the challenge with all your friends and family.
]]>Saba first visited Paris when she was 10 years old and the magic of her first trip has stayed with her up until today.
In this article she looks back at her past travels and describes her latest one. She shares about her favorite places in Paris and describes her experience in our boutique L'Île aux Fées.
I had the luck of spending three full months in France with my family during the summer of 1991. Out of all the cities we had ever visited in the world, the one that captured our heart and souls most was Paris. We then decided that no matter where we travelled, we would either start or end our trips in Paris ! And that started a tradition which we are continuing to keep alive !
Today as a mother of 2 wonderful girls, living on the west coast of United States, we make sure to visit a new country every year and give our children precious life, history and art lesson through these trips. Finally coming back to Paris after all the lockdowns was a must!
I think Thomas Jefferson said it best : “A walk about Paris will provide lessons in history, beauty, and in the point of Life.” Centuries worth of world’s best architecture, philosophy and art gathered in one city ! What else can one ask for !
For hotels, we like the Right Bank, either rue Saint Honoré or avenue Montaigne. Hotel Richepanse, rue du Chevalier de Saint Georges is a lovely one too with large rooms overlooking elegant Haussmanien buildings.
Two streets away from the mythical Chanel rue Cambon, Hotel Castille offers outstanding service and are very kid-friendly. We strongly recommend. And of course, I have to mention l'hôtel de Crillon,where I have the fondest memories as a child!
Our favourite place for a treat is Ritz Paris comptoir, an amazing tea room run by the talented chef François Perret! Exquisite pâtisseries, viennoiseries, madeleines of all sizes and shapes, brioches, tarts, delicatessen of all sorts and even cake shakes... It's a dream !
For women's shopping I love Dice Kayek for its architectural silhouettes and Manoush Paris for its colorful and eco-friendly collections.
As for museums, I was spellbound by the Galerie Dior ! The girls loved it too. It was a fun fashion outing. We enjoyed the gorgeous scenography and learnt a lot about the maison too !
Apart from all the museums and palaces we had on the list, there was another special place we were very excited about : a little boutique in the heart of Paris making beautiful dresses for little girls! L'Ile aux Fées of course !
Liana, my youngest who just turned nine, loves her Charlotte sy Dimby dresses. Shipped to the United States, she has worn them for every occasion : from Easter to Christmas ! Charlotte’s beautiful dresses are a staple in her closet.
On a lazy Sunday afternoon we took the metro from Rue saint Honoré where our hotel was located and stopped only a few stations away at rue Notre Dame des Champs. A short walk and there it was in all it glory ! The cutest, sweetest boutique with colorful dresses hanging in the window !
We were so excited to finally meet the store manager Sybille, who’s been wonderful and was always helping us with everything! She was waiting for us with a beautiful smile and a wonderful handmade welcome card for Liana. With her perfect English she gave us a tour of the store and a bit of its history.
We left the store with another beautiful dress and a few hair accessories and hope to come back very soon !
Do not travel to or from Paris on July 14th especially if you are staying in central Paris! An amazing military parade and fireworks launched from the Eiffel Tower are organised each year to celebrate the French National Day! These are definitely worth the sight but mean that many roads are blocked... Getting to the airport can prove very challenging !
I also recommend wearing comfortable shoes to be able to walk around! It's the best way to enjoy the city.
Follow Saba and her family on Instagram : @sussi_ah
Read more articles about mums' experiences in Paris
Come and visit our boutique L'Ile aux Fées
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