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Posts Tagged ‘le top designer’

Elena, Sacha and friend

Sasha, Nadya, and Elena

Whether you are a fifth generation American, or have recently made America your new home, you probably observe customs and traditions passed down to you through the generations. This past weekend I volunteered at the annual St. Nicolas Bazaar to raise funds for the parish. The authenticity of the event was so remarkable that attendees were feeling as though they were in different country. I not only felt like I was back at home in Russia, but in a different century altogether.  As the sound of the accordion filled the square, the smell of piroshki drifted out of the kitchen, and laughing children ran around in Russian headdresses and gowns, traditions came alive.Russian3

What traditions have been passed down to you that bring back warm memories and happy conversation?

Dosvidaniya!

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Kristin with Her Favorite Lunchboxes

Kristin with Her Favorite Lunchboxes

Back to school…a time of pain (who wants to leave those lazy unscheduled days of summer!)  And a time of joy…the excitement of seeing friends, agonizing over the ‘first day of school outfit’, and the very exciting Back to School shopping trip! 

In my family, that Back to School shopping extravaganza never amounted to much since I was plagued with a mother who hated to shop, whereas I was one of the only ones in my family that lived to shop (I take after my dad I guess!).  Each year my mom would surrender to our “special day” of school shopping, making sure we hit the stores early and had a check list so there was no dilly-dallying.

Wade Going Back to Preschool

Wade Going Back to Preschool

I was always front and center, with list in hand, and at the top of my list every year was the all-important NEW LUNCH BOX!  Of course every year there was the ‘must have’ lunch box…depending on the year it might be The Avengers (Marvel), My Little Ponies (Hasbro) and the ultimate – New Kids On the Block (I LOVED Jordan!)  As the years passed these ‘fashionable’ lunch boxes morphed into ‘cooler’ Igloo Lunch Bags and finally the perennial brown paper bag.  I hung on to my favorites though I kept them hidden away so my friends wouldn’t see them when they’d come over to play.

I still have two of my ‘classic’ lunch boxes – The Avengers and My Little Ponies.  During college I even pulled them out and tried to be a trend setter by using them as a hand bag!  During this year’s Back-to-School period the lunchroom conversation turned to lunchbox memories, and I discovered that I am not the only one who held on to their treasured accessory!  Sarah brought in her Candyland lunchbox for our own version of ‘show and tell’ – gathering a gaggle of excited ‘girls’, anxious to revisit their childhood memories. Here are a few of our other staff’s favorites.

Lunchboxes
Although these characters of yesteryear have been relegated to the category of ‘vintage’ – the children of today are still eagerly looking forward to the first day of school…and proudly displaying that great new LUNCHBOX!  I can’t wait until I can share in this time-honored tradition! 

What was YOUR favorite lunchbox?   Come on…share!

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Sarah's shoes

Great design is all about inspiration!  When Sarah, our Assistant Designer for le•top was in China with the Dragon Boat team, she was stimulated by the beauty and all the unique encounters.  Of course she always has her eye out for fashion…and we couldn’t resist sharing these fabulous shoes she found.  These one of a kind flats are made of cow hide, and have the kind of whimsy that makes them le•top extraordinary!  She wore them in to work the other day and I just had to snap a photo for you all to see!

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Puppy friends- Sarah 2

Sarah, Rudy and Krypton

Sarah, our “Dragon Boat Queen” and assistant designer, was recently asked to do a little puppy-sitting (are you sick of hearing about puppies yet?!) We were in the midst of our weekly blog meeting when Rudy, a long-haired teacup Chihuahua was dropped off to Sarah at the office!  Our meeting came to an immediate stop so we could all swoon over the little guy!  Even Krypton, Head Designer Pat’s wonder dog, came in to say “Howdy!” 

Awww…just another day at le•top – livin’ and lovin’ all things warm and wonderful!

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The sun is dipping lower in the sky and the nights grow just a bit cooler…do I see the hint of color in the leaves?  Fall is in the air!  With the fall season fast approaching there is excitement brewing here at le•top!  It’s Back to School!  Well, we do get excited about Fall fashions, but there is something else that stirs the senses – FOOTBALL RIVALRIES!  Yes, this cute and cuddly children’s clothing company is home to some serious fans – so while we are busy shipping our FABULOUS Varsity Blues collection to waiting retailers our football fanatics are ‘showing their colors!’  Since le•top is available in retailers across the United States we thought we would ask a few ‘fans’ here in the office where their loyalties lie.

Sarah and Diana in Their Jerseys

Sarah and Diana in Their Team Jerseys

Sarah, our le•top assistant designer loves her team!  Sarah, growing up in Montana, really had the freedom to choose any team in the country – they are not ‘next’ to anything!  She relates that her mom, a native of North Dakota has always favored their ‘neighbor’ – The Minnesota Vikings.  Her Dad went with the Chicago Bears – but Sarah had to break with the family and choose the Indianapolis Colts.  Why???  Peyton!  She fell in love with football when Peyton Manning hooked her with his ‘Hail Mary!’  Now she is here in the San Francisco Bay Area…Niners? Raiders?  She maintains “I’m a Colts fan for life!’

Diana, our customer service specialist extraordinaire, took at little different path to loyalty…She grew up in Los Angeles – a ‘city girl.’  The Raiders, based in LA during her childhood, gained Diana’s loyalty as she watched football with her older brother.  She followed football just because she idolized her brother, and football was the common bond. When Diana, a ‘Navy Brat’ moved to the Bay Area (her father was stationed at Treasure Island) found out that the Raiders were moving back to the Bay Area there was celebrating in her family!  She can’t wait until September…Go Raiders!

If you are “READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL!” check out the le•top Varsity Blues collection – you fans and dads will love it!  And as for me…NINERS RULE!

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Sarah Showing us her Sparkly Ring

Sarah Showing us her Sparkly Ring

Last Thursday I heard shrieking from the front office…noises that herald the arrival of either: a new baby, a new puppy, or…an engagement ring!  Sarah, Assistant Designer of le•top, walked into the office this past week and flashed her beautiful new accessory announcing her engagement!  We are thrilled for Sarah, especially since we just love her fiancé Steve!  Sarah, a Montana native, managed to meet the man of her dreams – a fireman that shoes horses as his ‘second job.’  The transplanted Cowgirl finds a California Cowboy!

Gianna

Gianna

Steve’s family loves Sarah!  When news of the engagement spread to Steve’s family, and her soon-to-be brother-in-law started teaching their 4 year old daughter Gianna that Sarah would now be “Auntie” Sarah (rather than “Big” Sarah – to differentiate her from a preschool friend with the same name.)  When Sarah arrived for a 1st birthday party for Gianna’s younger sister she greeted her with “Auntie Sarah, Auntie Sarah!”  This was an exciting and heart warming surprise for Sarah!  She is really happy to be part of her fiancé’s family and becoming “Auntie” Sarah made it official!!

Congratulations Sarah!

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Pockets Blog1We love questions that make us stop and think…why do we do that?  One of our wonderful retailers, Jacquie at In Fashion Kids, posed a question that new moms ask – “Why do baby clothes have pockets?”  It’s a great question!  TC (Human Resources Manager, blogger and mom) organized a little ‘round table discussion’ with our fabulous designers here at le•top – we thought you would love to hear some excerpts explaining their creative reasoning.

Marykate – le•top baby Head Designer and mom
“I love little pockets on baby clothes, because it gives me another place to put embroideries and appliqués…and where else would they keep their pacifiers?”

 Pat – le•top Head Designer, mom and grandmother
“That’s a funny question, isn’t it? I think designers put pockets on baby clothes as a design element, because most people like to dress their babies in clothes that mimic older fashions. If you left the pockets off of little boy’s pants for instance, the pants might look like they were missing something because we are used to seeing them there!

Rolando – rabbitmoon Head Designer 
“There are several reasons to put pockets on baby clothes. One of the main reasons is to show gender difference. You design rounded pockets, and sure enough the outfit looks girly.  Then you make a square pointy pocket and the outfit looks a little more boyish.  Another reason for pockets is to make a statement that says “I care,” even if the pockets are useless. You care for the babies and want to make them look like we do – “little persons.” I have no children but I am sure that if I did I would want to make them feel like they are part of me and they are no different.”

Elena – le•top baby Assistant DesignerPocket Blog
“I think the whole “mini-me” concept is right on. The clothes we design at le•top are not only functional, but also fashionable. In fashion clothes don’t always have to “make sense” – they are meant to inspire, influence, delight, or humor. Baby clothes are meant to be adorable. Pockets, embroideries, ears, and soft fabrics are all a part of that warm, “Awwww, that’s so cute” feeling you get from looking at baby clothes.”

Anna – Technical Designer and Design Room Manager
“Pockets are essential for baby clothing so they have that extra cushion to fall on. ☺ Pockets on baby clothing are great for a game of hide and go seek. You can hide a toy in the pocket for your baby to find. Pockets are also known as ‘Baby’s First Bank’ – whenever your family and friends give your baby money, they are great for safekeeping!”

Sarahle•top Assistant Designer
“I think babies need clothes with pockets because it’s adorable when they’re dressed up as little adults. When I have a baby, I plan on dressing him up like a grandpa: argyle vests, brown velcro shoes, newsboy hats, and cords with pockets!!! Everything is so much cuter when it’s smaller!”

Marice – Assistant Designer and mom
“Little pockets are just right to add interest to a garment.  Yes, if you think about it, it is silly to put pockets on a newborn garment because they are not really used by the baby, but I think they are so commonplace that they are accepted.  Here’s a thought…Does anyone question the tiny patch pocket they sometimes put on the sleeves of women’s t-shirts?  They don’t even have a flap, so they’re not really functional either!”

TC – HR Manager and mom
“Why pockets? Kids love them! My daughter can’t get enough of them. She sticks her hands in them whether they’re on the shirt, pant leg, or on the hip then, she makes sure that everyone else knows about her pockets. I regularly find chap stick, hair clips, rocks, keys, and change in her pockets. She likes to stand with both hands in her pockets and look like a grown up. Hooray for pockets!!!!”

Now that you’ve heard from our designers and staff, we’d love to hear from you! Do you prefer clothes for your children with pockets? Why? What treasures have you found in your children’s pockets?

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NAMI Walk in Golden Gate Park

NAMI Walk in Golden Gate Park

Although it was a fairly typical foggy morning in Golden Gate Park, my family arrived early bringing tea and bagels. Every year, we walk with all the other psychiatrists and their families from the Northern California Psychiatric Society. (My step-dad is next year’s President.) This year he organized our own team – consisting mostly of our family and those of other workers from Marin General Hospital. We collected our free NAMI (National Association for Mental Illness) t-shirts (because we each raised more than the $200 minimum sponsorship) and met with the rest of our team.

The park was full of women, men, and children of all ages wearing t-shirts to represent their teams – “Walking for Kaylee,” “If My Heart Were a Place,” and “Healing Hugs” were just a few of the 157 teams that gathered to raise funds and bring awareness to mental illness. However, this event wasn’t meant to be sad. In fact, the energy ran high as everyone listened to Grand Marshall Patty Duke and prepared to do warm-up jumping jacks before the walk. I even volunteered to go on stage and announce our team, Marin General Hospital “Bon Airs”, to over 1500 walkers and TV cameras. The walk itself always seems much shorter than 5K – on account of great company and conversation! It felt good to know that we contributed to the nearly $300,000 that NAMI raised this year. But most importantly, it felt good to know that every year we walk for such an important cause.

Thanks to all my friends at le•top for contributing to my fund raising goal this year! It was a great help. Please join NAMI Walks next year, May 2010, in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.”

For further information regarding the NAMI Walks in the San Francisco Bay Area, go to http://www.namiwalksfbay.org/.

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