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Your kids may love getting hongbao, but that's no reason to send them out looking like walking red packets as they dash around ushering in the Year of the Rat.
Family-friendly retailers including Bossini, OG and Robinsons have got some snappy options for your rat pack - or brat pack, for that matter.
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DO:
» Put kids in brights like red, pink, yellow, green and orange. These are seen as auspicious and add to the festive fun.
» Make sure little ones are comfortable in their clothes as they will be running about, having fun with cousins and friends. Cotton is comfy. If they are wearing something sleeveless or short, take a cardigan or jacket along in case it turns cool.
» Make sure shoes and bags match the outfit. Sports shoes with a dress is out, for example. Covered-toe shoes like ballet pumps and Mary-Janes work well. Bags and shoes in yellow, red and pink look great, if the rest of the outfit tones in.
» Make an extra outfit in case Junior spills his drink.
» Dress up, too. You don't want to look dumpy next to your dolled-up darlings.
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DON'T:
» Over-accessorise - your child is not a Christmas tree. Keep to three items at most that work best with the whole outfit, like a pair of earrings, hairband and bracelets. For boys, watches and belts add a nice touch.
» Plaster heavy make-up on your cutie-pies. Kids should look like kids, not a mini-Me. If Little Miss wants colour, tinted lipgloss and a light dusting of blush are plenty.
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Home-grown department store chain OG has a collection by in-house labels such as Rodolia and
J Edwards that has kiddie designs both modern and traditional in shades of that Chinese New Year evergreen, red.
The clothing range, launched earlier this month, is priced from $28.90 for a Cerisi cotton shirt to $39.90 for a Rodolia top, pleated skirt and sling bag set.
Traditional brocade outfits and contemporary dresses and shirts with Oriental touches like mandarin collars and frog buttons are the most popular, says OG's marketing communications manager Sally Tang.
Hong Kong-based casualwear label Bossini, meanwhile, started rolling out CNY collections two years ago. Its range fuses East and West influences, and targets children aged three to 14.
A Bossini spokesman says it decided to create a festive range for kids because it realised parents were looking for CNY-specific or red clothes for their children.
Its designs this year incorporate traditional Oriental prints and motifs such as goldfish and dragons and intricate details such as mandarin collars and embroidery into pieces such as T-shirts and knit shorts. Prices range from $12 to $16.
Hong Kong kidswear label Kingkow's CNY range, priced from $19 to $199 for T-shirts, pants and jackets, also features festive touches like dragonflies and Chinese knot buttons. Its three stores stock the festive range from mid-December each year, covering newborns all the way up to teenagers.
To usher in the Year of the Rat, the Disney collection at Robinsons features mouse designs with red prints and trim. Prices range from $19.90 to $32.90.
Bossini's general manager Barbara Chan says red items are still the bestsellers as Chinese see it as an auspicious colour that signifies good luck.
Still, Bossini offers items like T-shirts and bottom wear in neutral colours for easier matching.
Australian brand Blossom & Friends, which is sold at Forum The Shopping Mall, Paragon and Robinsons The Centrepoint and caters to girls three to 16, also has pretty options for those who don't fancy looking like a firecracker.
It has dresses and skirts in bright hues such as mustard yellow, tangerine orange and pink, from $49.90 to $149.90.
Ng Shaoean, a partner in the brand, says: 'The colours we use tend to be pastels like pink, turquoise, beige and white. Although our range is not specifically for CNY, we have decided to move to brighter colours for this range because CNY is a traditional holiday in Singapore.'
Urban teams up with freelance stylist Jerome Awasthi to show you how to mix and match colours so your kids won't make the fashion police see red.
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Sam wears: Red long-sleeve tee, $23, white short-sleeve shirt, $29, both from Fox Kids, 05-39 Paragon; beige pants, $34.90, from Cerisi, OG Albert Complex; brown leather shoes, $59.90, from Andre Valentino, Robinsons, Level 5 The Centrepoint
Ellen wears: White knit jacket, $69.90, red singlet with floral embellishment, $46.90, both from Blossom & Friends, Robinsons; blue denim drawstring skirt with floral trim, $36, from Fox Kids; red and white beaded hair tie as bangle, $5.30 to $19.90, from OG; red hair clip, stylist's own; white lace-trim socks, $3.90, from OG; red patent and embroidery pumps, $29.90, from Colette, OG
Why they work: Yes, they are togged out in auspicious red, but it's not over the top. Children are able to carry off the bright colour, but don't overwhelm them with it. Pair it with like neutrals, as here - Ellen's white knit jacket adds flair, not flare; as do Sam's beige pants.
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Ellen wears: Pink corduroy dress, $38.90, from Cerisi, OG; coconut ice glassy alice band, $9, from Pumpkin Patch, 02-77 VivoCity; tote bag, $26.90, from Little Princess, Playground at Level 4 Tangs Orchard; white lace-trim socks, $3.90, from OG; white patent shoes, $32.90, from Barbie, Playground at Tangs Orchard
Sam wears: Boys' traditional suit, $29.90, from Playground at Tangs Orchard; black shoes, $22.90, from J Edward, OG
Why they work: Kids look great in something that combines modern and old. Ellen's dress is an update of the traditional cheongsam, while Sam's outfit is a mixture of the Chinese traditional suit and a pair of functional beige pants.
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Ellen wears: Multi-coloured sweater, $79.90, from Blossom & Friends, Robinsons; checked pleated skirt with scarf belt, $43, from Pumpkin Patch
Sam wears: White tee with striped vest, $69.90, from Eighty4Roar, Robinsons; denim jumper, $46, from Fox Kids
Why they work: Stripes and bright-coloured items look so dashing. Plus, Sam's jumper and Ellen's outfit are comfy for all that dashing about during the CNY rounds.
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Ellen wears: Pink qipao, $225, star slippers, $165, both from Shanghai Tang, 02-12G Ngee Ann City; velvet bracelet handbag, $19, from Pumpkin Patch
Sam wears: Mandarin collar blue-striped shirt, $140, camel pants with print, $185, both from Shanghai Tang; white suspenders, stylist's own
Why they work: This look is inspired by the glory days of 1920s Shanghai. Ellen's qipao is classy, but the hot pink colour brings it into this century. Sam's white suspenders add a boyish note to a formal look of yesteryear.
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Ellen wears: Pink dress with floral details, $109.90, from Homegrown, Playground at Tangs Orchard
Sam wears: Green-striped white shirt, $29, from Fox Kids; chocolate textured canvas pants with striped belt, $49, from Pumpkin Patch
Why they work: Perfect for a reunion dinner gathering, Ellen's pink princess is formal yet glam, while Sam's smart shirt and pants will garner nods of approval from the older, more conservative generation.
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WHERE TO FIND KIDSWEAR
Bossini
01-30 The Centrepoint and 02-180 Marina Square
The CNY kidswear range comes in red and orange with Oriental designs like goldfish and dragons. Prices range from $12 to $16.
Kingkow
02-16 Forum The Shopping Mall and 04-20P Takashimaya Department Store
Bright pink and red for girls, and red and orange for boys, with intricate details like embroidered flowers, fish and butterflies. Prices range from $19 to $79 for babywear and $19 to $199 for kidswear.
Blossom & Friends
02-18 Forum The Shopping Mall, 05-52 Paragon Shopping Centre and Robinsons The Centrepoint
Bright colours like mustard yellow, tangerine orange and pink abound in this girlswear brand. Items carry graphic and floral designs. Prices range from $49.90 to $149.90.
Robinsons
Level 5 The Centrepoint
From Oriental-inspired dresses to red Chinese prints and trims, this kidswear range provides many choices for parents. Prices range from $5 to $119.
OG
60 Albert Street, Level 3 Albert Complex
Traditional brocade outfits to contemporary lines from in-house brands Rodolia and J Edwards. Prices range from $39.90 to $43.90 for traditional kidswear and $33.90 to $59.90 for contemporary lines.
Photographer: DESMOND FOO; Stylist: JEROME AWASTHI; Hair and make-up: CHRIS RUTH; Models: SAM POTTER and ELLEN POTTER, Impact Models
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