With my first two children - both little girls - I thought I was pretty picky about what they wore.  No licensed character-themed clothing (with the exception of undies - I’ll allow Disney Princesses as long as they’re not visible), and nothing with even a hint of sexuality.

Then I had a boy.  And I figured, “Hey, this will be easy!  I don’t have to worry about premature sexualization; nobody markets padded bras to boys.  And Disney hasn’t yet put out a line of Prince merchandise.  We’re home-free where it comes to dressing this little guy!”

Oh, how wrong I was.

Turns out, I’m even pickier about boy clothes than I am about girl clothes.  Not only am I anti-licensed character-themed clothing - no Power Rangers, no Star Wars, no Lightning McQueen - I’m also averse to sports-themed clothing, construction-themed clothing, and anything that emblazoned “Mama’s Little Man” (or worse, “Grandma Loves Me”).  Barf-o-rama.  Why can’t boys - even baby boys - look COOL?

Thanks to Kenneth Cole, they can.  This snazzy little outfit from Kenneth Cole fits the bill perfectly.  It’s trendy, but it’s not age-inappropriate.  It shows our style, but it’s not a billboard.

Want specifics as to why this outfit rocks?  First of all, the top has a collar (which I looove on little guys), but it’s a onesie.  That means it stays tucked in, all neat and tidy.  For me, until my kids can stand up on their own, I prefer onesies.  Regular tees just ride up, and I’m forever tugging them back down.

Next, I love the stitching detail on the pants.  They’re brown, but the stitching is white - drawing attention to the seams, making them both functional and decorative.  And the stitching is well done (another big plus with me).

Finally, I really dig the little sunhat.  I may not be adept at accessorizing myself, but I love accessories for kids.  They pull the outfit together and make it complete.

I’m so glad to have discovered this fantastic line of kids’ clothes.  I know Kenneth Cole makes quality, good-looking items for adults, and now I can look to them for kids’ clothes that meet my exacting standards.  I’m going to have the best-dressed little dude on the playground.

I really ought to feel guilty for spoiling my girls with all the pairs of shoes they own, but I just can’t do it. Not when more than half of those pairs of shoes come from Vincent.

Tacy’s favorite pair of Vincent footwear would have to be her Blomma rain boots. The child wears those boots, rain or shine, seven days a week - but you’d never know it to look at the boots. They have held up beautifully under extreme wear and tear.

But after receiving a pair of Lilly Mary Janes, she has started slipping these beauties into the rotation. A lavender (or blue, if you choose) suede upper covered in sequins, these shoes are absolutely fabulous. I can’t blame her for wanting to wear them, even if they’ve already gotten scuffed on the playground at recess. Like her Blomma boots, these Lilly Mary Janes are holding up well and will certainly take her all the way through the spring and summer (and into fall too, if her feet don’t grow too fast!).

Meanwhile, CJ is a fan of a style that has since been discontinued, but it’s a basic bootie that zips up over the top of her foot. They’re so flexible that it’s almost like being barefoot (which is her preferred state). But like Tacy, she’s enamored of her new Vincent sandals in the Lisa style. While it’s still a bit chilly to wear them outside, she’s been breaking them in around the house, and she loves the little butterfly perched on the upper. I love how soft they are, and I’m confident that she’ll wear them all summer long.

While I love the unique designs at Vincent, I’m just as sold on the quality of the shoes we’ve bought there. It’s the designs that entice my kids to wear these shoes, and it’s the quality that keeps them from being worn out before the kids grow out of them.

Thanks to our Vincent review campaign at PBN, I’ve got a coupon code to share!  For 20% off all regular-priced items at Vincent, enter code SPRING-DEAL-8 at checkout (valid through April 30, 2008).  As always, shipping at Vincent is free with purchases over $75.