Perhaps with all you have to do this holiday season, we won’t be able to convince you to cross the 405 just to indulge in a little shopping. Luckily, there’s absolutely no need: we’ve uncovered 2 brand new shops, one in the east and one in the west, both carrying gorgeous things for babies and kids. Welcome, Sweet William & ciao, Caro Bambino—your neighborhoods are better for your sweet sartorial stylings.
Sweet William
We mourned when Tomboy, one of our favorite stylish shops for tots, closed earlier this year. But lo and behold, from the ashes rose one of the coolest East Coast shops for kids, with their very first West Coast store. With a carefully selected collection of independent designers, shopping at Sweet William is like having your very own personal shopper for your kids. They do the legwork, finding clothes of the highest quality, and made by environmentally and ethically responsible manufacturers from predominantly organic materials. And these clothes are adorable, cutting edge and comfy. Yep, they’ll fit in perfectly in Silverlake.
The shop isn’t just a new outpost of a beloved Brooklyn shop, it’s clearly a labor of love. Owners Bronagh and Peter Staley moved from NY to open the store, and their love and dedication is on display throughout. Peter, an artist, built the inside (and outside—peek in the back) of the store, including all the drawings, dioramas and furniture. Bronagh, a former fashion editor at Cookie magazine (moment of silence for the beloved kid style bible), is the eye behind finding the most beautiful, soft and cool kids clothes and toys around. You’ll find great items, from play clothes at dress up coats you’ll want in your size, throughout the store. And if you don’t see the size you want, be sure to ask. The store carries sizes for newborns through age 12.
But can you shop online, if you can’t face the freeway?
Yes! That’s how we first fell in love with Sweet William, and if you’re tight on time and don’t live hipster-adjacent, shop away online.
1406 Micheltorena St., Silverlake
Hours: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. weekdays, opens at noon on the weekend
Phone: 323-741-8161
Online: sweetwilliamltd.com
Caro Bambino
While over on the Westside, Caro Bambino has landed on Main St. in Santa Monica. This meticulously curated store was created to be a “One-Stop” shop full of beautiful and well made nursery furniture, clothing, and gear. For parents, by parents is their motto. The store was the brainchild of owners Nicole Desgroux and Andro Korlaet. The lightbulb moment came when Nicole found herself an expecting mother forced to drive all over Los Angeles to get all the new-Mommy must-haves. We’ve all been there—the cute clothing store with organic nappies is on one side of town, while the strollers you’ve got to actually test out is on the other. And you have to hit 4 stores to find the car seat that fits your car, your needs, and your aesthetics. What was needed was a warm and inviting place where you could find all those things. And presto! Now we have it.
Caro Bambino has unique and hard to find products, many of which are organic and sustainably made. You’ll find gifts, gear and furniture; everything for the first few years (including guidance and advice from the new parents/owners). Some of our favorite discoveries were the Wishbone 3-in-1 wooden bike, super soft organic sleepers from Finn+Emma, the amazing Comotomo bottles and the sleekly stylish Orbit Baby strollers and car seats.
If you feel lost at sea beyond the product aspect of parenting, they also help guide you through each step of new parenthood, with registry help, classes, workshops and one-on-one consultations that take you from pre-baby to nursing, sleeping and even second baby brush-ups. Ahhh, help has arrived, and it’s all in one easy (and tasteful!) spot.
But can you shop online, if you can’t face the freeway?
Soon! Check the website; they’re fine tuning the online experience and shopping will be at your fingertips any day.
2710 Main St., Santa Monica
Hours: opens daily at 10 a.m., closes at 7 p.m. every day but Sunday (closes at 6 p.m.)
Phone: 310-399-7971
Online: carobambino.com
-Meghan Rose
What’s your favorite new store for kids & babies in town? And is it worth braving traffic? Let us know!
photos courtesy of Meghan Rose and Caro Bambino
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