The kids are alright

CHILDREN between the ages of three and eight had the time of their young lives recently as they strutted with sophistication way beyond their years along the runway at Central Chidlom showing the very latest in designer clothes from 27 popular brands.
Spread over two days, the six shows featured nearly 400 mini models, all of them selected through audition and who had worked hard in rehearsing for the event. They included Tee, son of ML Ploynapat and Apichart Leenutaphong; Tate, Thames, and Thyne, the offspring of Nitipong and Pattamon (Adireksan) Suriyal; Thea and Teak, the children of Narawadee and Sittiwat Sahawat; Disra, daughter of Iswara and Ravi Kuramarohit; Apichaya and Permsak Krairiksh’s son Tee, Apaporn Kosolkul’s niece and nephew Art and Arale, Sarannop Devahasdin na Ayudhya and Jiravadee Rattanatanyong’s daughter Tofai, Vista and Changnoi Kunjara na Ayutthaya’s daughter Irin, plus the children of various actors and artists, among them Puntharika and Khanthong Nuanual’s daughter Anya, and Pajit Thomya’s daughter Namalee.
The inaugural show began with a performance by Thai guitar prodigy Nadol Jutasompakorn, who stunned the audience with his prowess on the strings. Next up was the catwalk parade of the summer collections from luxury brands Diesel, Junior Gaultier, Kenzo Kids, Little Marc Jacobs, Paul Smith Junior, and Young Versace.
This summer Junior Gaultier invites little ones to a ballet that will make their heads spin. The navy stripe takes on a graphic and arty mood while traditional indigo is given a twist with intense orange, and brightened by ecru. A pointillist print, straight from the Jean Paul Gaultier archives, adds a touch of refinement and originality and, mixed with stripes, injects real energy to the collection. The floral graphics bring a more romantic and feminine note. This theme is enhanced with transparency and light, with fluid fabrics like crepe and lightweight knits. Finally, the pieces from the Gaultier wardrobe reworked in lyocell denim provide the necessary chic for this graphic dance.
Kenzo Kids heads to the Californian coast, birthplace of creative directors Carol Lim and Humberto Leon. The luminous Pacific Ocean beaches and their waters have inspired this season’s colour palette with acidulous and bright tones, blue shades and hues of black and white completing this summery range. Prints, both graphic and painted, are inspired by subcultures, the underground music scene and the urban beachside environment of Los Angeles. A spirit of beach life pervades the collection where blurred and structured volumes are mixed for both boys and girls.
The highly anticipated collection by Little Marc Jacobs takes its inspiration from the boroughs of inner Manhattan with an edgy new offering that’s the height of urban cool. Infinitely wearable, each piece is cleverly made to keep explorers from birth to 12 years comfortable and chic on all their adventures. From reliable street staples such as distressed jeans and luxe sweats to more conceptual high-end pieces, including a deconstructed ruffle shift dress, there is something in the range to suit every little tyke. The season’s key trends – varsity, hot tropics and western revival– are given a youthful spin. Sporty sneakers covered in punchy prints lend a collegiate vibe. Electric shades of blue and orange, floral shirts and animal motifs channel a relaxed Hawaiian feel, while distressed two-toned denims and vintage white jeans are a fun throwback to the Wild West.
The Young Versace collection adds new contrasting colours and unusual combinations. For the “Junior Versace girl”, the most important theme of the collection is the Flower Pop, a tribute to the floral prints enriched by macro baroque and characterised by pop colours like pink, orange and fuchsia. The floral theme, along with the macro polka dots, is made of silk. The most stylish clothes, in yellow and purple, alternate with boxy sweaters embroidered with foulard prints. For the Cowboy theme, washed and treated denim in dark blue and pink is enriched with foulard prints, studs, colourful butterflies and fringed chains.
For his part, the young Versace boy is dressed in washed denim sweatshirts combined with baroque and foulard prints in shades of blue. The hallmarks of the Far West, like the medusa sheriff star, the cactus and the horseshoe are recurring elements.
In line with the principal moods in the adult collection, Guess Kids presents three themes for the hot season inspired by the brand’s birthplace Los Angeles. The “leitmotif” throughout the collections is used all-over prints in a multitude of variations, from sublimation to digital, photographic and floral.
Bringing the curtain down of the two days of shows was a performance by the international cheerleading champions from Rangsit University’s Satit Bilingual School. They were followed on stage by a fashion show presenting such Thai brands as Dektay by Nana Rybena, Paula and Baby by Paula Taylor, Enfant, and Little Wacoal. The little fashionistas who delighted the audience included Nana Rybena and Prinya Intachai’s twins Bena and Brooklyn, and Panita and Jarin Thammawattana’s daughter Nirin.
A special promotion on all the clothes runs though April 27.