Our Customers Often Say it Better Than We Can
We recently received this email from a customer and had to share it. It really gets to the heart of the FashionPlaytes story — we built this company to provide young girls with a vehicle for creative self-expression and confidence (and we hope that one or two might remember us when they’re the next Donna Karan!) Read it and weep (we practically did).
Dear FashionPlaytes:
As with many little girls, mine (who is eight) has big plans when she grows up. She wants to be either a veterinarian, a pop star, a clothing designer or an astronaut.
I found a coupon for your company in a magazine and was intrigued, so I checked the web site out. I then created an account for my daughter and told her that she could design her own clothes. She spent all afternoon, filling her “closet” with clothes. Without her knowing, I ordered the jean jacket she had designed complete with rhinestones, flowers and a fairy patch.
The first example of the care your company demonstrated came in a phone call letting me know that this particular jacket was running a bit small and did I want to get the next larger size. What?! An internet company based on the other side of the country wanted to give me information that could effect my order? With a personal phone call? I was impressed.
The next example was when the jacket arrived in the mail. I couldn’t wait for my daughter to open it so I took it to work and opened it there. Wow. It is the cutest jacket complete with my daughter’s fashion label. It got tons of “oohs” and “ahhs” as I showed it to my coworkers.
The final example, and the only one I really needed, was my daughter’s face when she opened (the rewrapped) package. She didn’t know that I had ordered it, so she wasn’t sure what the package was. But as she tore away the tissue paper, I could see her little mind working and recognizing that this was her jacket…the one she designed. She was thrilled to say the least and showered me with “best mom” praises.
Thank you for the quality work you do and for the opportunity you provide to little girls to be their own fashion designer. Who knows, that jean jacket may have planted the seed for a future clothing designer.
We will be using your site again and will recommend it to other moms of aspiring clothing designers/pop stars/astronauts/veterinarians.
Thank you.
Jennifer F.
Featured Design of the Week – Fashion that Flutters!
Check out this week’s featured design of the week! This Kate long-sleeve t-shirt designed by Serenity is absolutely divine. The butterfly appliqué matches perfectly to the pink chiffon shirt, and is accented beautifully by the plum ribbon and pink/purple henna underlayer. This shirt is perfect for a special girls night out, but is perfect for everyday wear as well! With a pair of jeans, or an adorable denim skirt, any girl would be sure to look fabulous and comfy in this top!
It certainly makes us feel serene! What do you think?
Keep using your creativity and designing new garments! You could be the next design of the week!
Labor Day Weekend – The End to Summer Vacation
Labor Day Weekend- the official end to summer. If it hasn’t already felt like summer has ended, then it will now! The kids have either been in school for a while or are just heading back, the office is full once again, the cute summer clothes are slowly working their way back into the closet, and there probably isn’t a countdown in sight for the next vacation.
Sounds depressing, but that doesn’t mean this weekend can’t be filled with some fun, pseudo, summer activities! If the weather is nice, have a BBQ with friends and family, escape to the beach one last time, go on a long nature walk or cycling ride, or, take that three-day weekend getaway that you’ve been meaning to take all summer. Labor Day Weekend is the last three day weekend that can still offer a taste of summer weather and a true feeling of summer.
So don’t let this weekend pass you by without getting one last summer tan, hauling the kids to the beach, or escaping for a mini getaway because this weekend demands that you celebrate the end to summer in style! We want to know, what are your plans for Labor Day Weekend?
Check out our new Video!
Who needs Madonna to launch a line?! Not tween designers on FashionPlaytes, they speak out on our new video:
Featured Design of the Week – Fashion that Rocks!
It’s time for a new featured design of the week! This week’s design has a rockstar vibe with a girly flair! Molliedeane created this Hannah hoodie and we love the use of mellow purple tones and the rhinestone star which gives it an edge. This hoodie is perfect for a cool summer night, a fall football game, or to apple picking in the sun! Who wouldn’t want to wear this star-studded hoodie out and about?! We certainly would love to!
What do you think of this fabulous t-shirt?
And don’t forget – keep expressing your style and inner fashionista with your designs! You could be our next Design of the Week!
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun – Contest Winners
We want to send out a big CONGRATULATIONS to our three contest winners – Colleen, Amber and Leia!
They had fabulous, creative and fun sleepover stories and ideas that all girls can enjoy! Check them out here, and try them out at your next slumber party!
Colleen’s story: “Our favorite sleepover story – we did manicures and karaoke at the same time. The girls who were waiting to get their nails done sang and then traded the microphone when it was their turn. No one wanted to wait for their nails to dry, so there is nail polish all over our microphone to remind us of the event!”
Amber’s idea: “favorite sleepover game: aluminum foil fashion show!”
Leia’s story: “After 3 boys, I finally got a girl and despite my fears she would grow up to be a tomboy, she is definitely a fashionista! Like most girls, sleep-overs are one of her favorite things to do, especially with her bff, Olivia. 
One such night, they disappeared for a couple of hours and then showed up again each with a… set of hand-sewn fashions for their dolls. They then held a fashion show and asked the rest of the family to rate their creations. They had different categories: dressy, everyday, and beachwear. It was fun for all!”
Featured Design of the Week – Styling in Sparkles!
It’s time for a new featured design of the week from one of our fabulously talented designers! This week we are featuring this beautiful Jane t-shirt by Jillsyrs. The blue sky underlayer and blue lace with the blue moon color of the shirt, are expertly coordinated and bring a girly twist to this T. The silver horse and rhinestone set add a flashy, sparkly twist, perfect for the first day of school!
We know that Jillsyrs will be rocking this shirt with pride! What do you think of this fabulous t-shirt?
Don’t forget – keep expressing your style and inner fashionista with your designs! You could be our next Design of the Week!
Fall Fashion Trends
It’s almost time to put away the cute summer dresses and tanks and to bring out the skinny jeans and jackets because fall is right around the corner! In order to get you ready for the fall we have some advice and some tips for this season’s fall fashion.
Colour Palette: This season we are recommending shades of grey from dove to charcoal, vibrant reds, warm gold and coral, purple (again!) Who doesn’t love purple?
Military Crisp: Fitted clean lines of stovepipe pants, piping trims to add linear detail to solid colours, epaulets, military badges, buttons and graphic elements. A classic navy peacoat paired with a knee length skirt or straight jeans complete the look.
Lace and Tulle Trims: These fanciful trims glam up a simple a-line dress or a basic tee. These looks are feminine, fun and flirty.
Eccentricity: The combination of unlikely colours (coral with red or purple with pea green) knee socks and over the knee socks with dresses, short jackets with long skirts. Mix it up and have fun! Top it off with a shocking hair style of multiple braids or asymmetrical up-do’s. Work that up-do!
Bohemian: This hot, summer look will carry into fall with second hand chic. Long skirts and vintage looking t-shirts and jeans, jangly bracelets and fringed capes. Poor-boy caps and fingerless gloves finish the look and keep girls feeling cozy as the weather cools.
Retro Urban Punk: skinny knit jeans (these feel much more comfy than the 70’s originals), black tees with goth-look graphics, high top sneakers and tall boots. Add some studs and stones.
We hope these fashion trends help you put together a styling outfit!
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun – Sleepover Contest!
Girls LOVE sleepovers! All the girl talk, movies, junk food, games, pillow fights, stories, truth or dare, hanging out with your BFF’s… what could be better?! FashionPlaytes wants to hear about your fun-filled sleepovers with your BFF’s! Send us your best stories, game ideas, or any other general great sleepover experiences you have had and you could win a custom lounge set to show off at your next sleepover!
See rules below on how to enter and win!
We happen to love …this game: Nail Polish Birthday Spin Game-Place several colors of nail polish in the middle of a circle of girls. Have the first girl at the sleepover spin a bottle of nail polish. Whoever the cap is pointing to when it stops must paint one of her fingernails that color. Then that person spins the next color of nail polish…and so on. Pretty soon everyone has really crazy hands and toes!
To enter: Post your favorite sleepover stories or games to our Facebook page by 8/19/10. Three winners will be drawn from all entries and announced on Friday, 8/20/10.
General contest rules: To enter, you must be a U. S. or Canadian resident, and have a parent or adult of at least 18 years of age entering on your behalf, and you must post a comment to the FashionPlaytes Facebook page. No purchase necessary. The winner(s) will be randomly selected and will receive a gift certificate valued at $50. Employees, contractors, and the families of employees and contractors of FashionPlaytes, Inc. are not eligible to enter. You are not eligible to win if you have received a prize or giveaway from FashionPlaytes in the last six months. Void where prohibited. Contest will run from 8/11/10 through 8/19/10.
Wild Child, Arlington MA
We’ve partnered with a few local retailers in the New England market to sell FashionPlaytes gift certificates – here’s a shout-out to THE best retailers around:
- Wild Child in Arlington, MA is a Best of Boston winner with a well-edited assortment of kids clothing, furniture and gear
- Belmont Toys in Belmont, MA is chock full of creative gifts for kids of all ages
- My New Wardrobe in Avon, CT specializes in a unique assortment of American and European kids clothing and footwear
Stop by if you live near one of these retailers & show your support for FashionPlaytes. Or pick up a gift certificate if you’re running off to a last-minute birthday party!
