Cotswold Kids loves classic children’s clothing, as well as labels that are a bit different to the usual ‘high street’ offerings.

Sarah Louise is a long-established English brand, famous for smocked dresses and occasion wear. From birth to 10 years.

Emile et Rose is a french-inspired British label,offering gift-wrapped baby wear, the perfect new baby gift. From birth to 18 months.

Mayoral is a respected Spanish label, with both classic and fashionable elements. From birth to 8 years.

D’Arcy Brown is classic English label, with stylish dresses, knitwear and separates for girls, plus smart casual mix-and-match separates for boys, including moleskin jackets, cord or tweed trousers, check shirts and wool-mix or cotton tank-tops. Darcy Brown clothing is always constructed in beautiful fabrics and the quality is superb.

Emile et Rose offers beautiful baby wear supplied as outfits, with cute wooden hangers and gift-boxed. Many outfits include accessories such as hats, wrist rattle, headbands, bootees, socks, wrist rattle or comforter. Emile and Rose girls outfits include an all-in-one with headband, romper with detachable bootees, sleepsuit with wrist rattle, dresses with panties and sun-hat, tunic dress top and shorts sets, dress set with bolero cardigan and tights, cuddle wraps (jersey blankets with hood) and sleeping bags (gro-bag style, in 1 tog for summer or 2.5 tog). Emile et Rose boys outfits include all-in-one with detachable bootees, sleepsuit with wrist rattle, polo-shirt set with shorts and hat, linen sailor suit, 4 piece tank top outfits in navy and white, or all ivory, perfect for Christenings. Plus cuddle-wraps and gro-bag-style sleeping bags. Toys include tiny squeaky Emile teddy in blue or white, and Rose bunny in pink, plus pink, blue or white comforters, jersey hats and twin-packs of socks. Each season there is usually a microfiber quilted jacket for boys and girls, and in the winter there will be snowsuits, in micro-fibre or faux-fur-style fleece. Often mistakenly known as Emily Rose, thus giving the impression of a girls range, the Emile et Rose nomenclature is such to ensure that the baby boys (Emile) are catered for as well as the girls (Rose). Emile is represented by a teddy and Rose by a bunny.

Our baby boutique also has lots of accessories suitable as baby gifts:

Merry Berries hats are made in England, and are strawberry shaped hats in 100% cotton, to fit babies from birth to approx. 18m. Suitable for wear from autumn through winter, to spring and into early summer. Their signature piece is the classic red strawberry hat, but each season there are new colours, in a mix of plain, striped, spot, cupcake and other designs such as sailing boats, Scottie dogs, ladybird, and not forgetting the popular quintessentially English Christmas pudding hat, and Rudolph reindeer too. New designs include soldiers (black and red guardsmen on a cream background) and London buses (black and red, again on a cream background).

Sock Ons are clever little things that keep babies socks on. Now available in two sizes, in plain and sneaker-prints. More plain colours have now been added.

Dribble Ons are a sister-product to SockOns, being stylish baby bandana-style (neckerchief) bibs, in plain colours (pinks, blues, red, brown, white and new bright colours too).

Toys, toys, toys!

Jellycat and sister-label Jellykitten are synonymous with quality soft toys and gifts. Designed in England, Jellycat is famous for soft toys, with signature designs including Slackajack Monkey, Bashful Bunny and Jumperjack Elly. We also have Hoopy Loopy tiny monkey, Hoopy Loopy tiny giraffe and Hoopy Loopy tiny elephant, Blossom Bashful bunnies, Floral Friends Molly Mouse, Clara Kitten and Beatrice Bunny. Fabric books include Jungle Friends and Farmyard Friends. Board Books are a great favourite, including elephant, bunny, cat, dog, lamb, pig, giraffe, zebra, all with tails and interesting textures for babies to explore. Melamine tableware sets are great value at just £9.99. Bashfuls also include Giraffe, Lamb, Donkey, Pony as well as Bunny. The Bashful Bunny Musical Mobile is a great birth gift, with 4 bashful bunnies suspended from a beige and white spotted padded ring, perfect in a nursery decorated in neutrals or browns.

With comforters such as My First Bunny comforter, My First Puppy and My First Teddy, plus Bashful Pink bunny blankie and Bashful Blue bunny blankie.

For a splash of colour, try the Maypole and Hoot Owl collections. Maypole includes Maypole Pony chime toy, Maypole Pony Hobby Horse, Maypole Humpty Dumpty chime, Maypole Elly chime and gorgeous Maypole elephant and pony soothers and comforters in pink or in blue. Hoot Owl includes the Hoot Owl soother (a fleece blanket with colourful Hoot Owl toy and tassles, the Hoot Owl toy itself, with teething ring and Velcro strap to attach to buggy or cot, and the Hoot Owl musical pull, which is a Hoot Owl seated on a cream half-moon, with musical pull and teething ring, again with Velcro loop for attaching to the cot or pram. A great toy to play when baby is put down to sleep.

Even newer are the Colly Wobble cow and Colly Wobble pony, in red, black and white, and blue, and white, respectively, with lots of stripes, sounds and textures, and tie for attaching to buggy or cot. Stripes are particularly good for tiny babies while their eye-sight matures.

Skidaddle Zebra is another pgram or cot toy that comes in navy and cream stripes, and the Skidaddle Zebra comes in pink and cream stripes.

Cordy Roy small elephant and small Cordy Roy cat are great add-on gifts to the Elephant & Mouse and Cat & Butterfly board books, perfect from age 1 up. The Cordy Roy elephant is a lovely rich deep blue, and Cordy Cat is a warm fuschia pink.

Another great musical toy is the Berty Blue elly musical pull, which matches the new Berty blue elly soother. Berty comes in a soft blue velour, with navy striped ears and feet. And there’s Polly Pink elly musical pull too, in a deep salmon pink, with stripey ears and feet, and matching Polly Pink Elly soother.

Our most popular pram toys are still Hoopy Loopies – tiny Hoopy Loopy monkey, tiny Hoopy Loopy elephant and tiny hoopy looky giraffe. The larger Hoopy Loopy jingle-jangle chimes are all available as monkey, elephant and giraffe, and the newest designs are Hoopy Loopy Wobble Elephant, Hoopy Loopy Wobble Monkey and Hoopy Loopy Wobble Giraffe. The Hoopy Loopy wobble toys are designed for the buggy or the cot, and crinkle, rattle and squeak, with black and white stripes to appeal to tiny babies, and brightly coloured features to make this a lasting toy for a growing baby or toddler.

The Dotty range of chimes and soothers are more traditional pastels, with the Dotty Blue Bunny Chime and Dotty Pink Bunny Chime being a larger toy for cuddling, and the Dotty Blue Bunny Soother and Dotty Pink Bunny Soother (a fleece square edged in satin, with separate bunny toy in a pocket), as a traditional comforter or boo-boo.

Back to more colour, with Jungly Tales: - the Jungly Tails Book is a fabric book with each page having the tail of a different jungle animal with different textures too. The Jungly Tales plate, cup and bowl set is made from quality melamine and is packed in a clear plastic tote, and is a brilliant gift from birth up to age 6.

Jellykitten Board books always go down well as 1st and 2nd birthday gifts. Including ‘If I were a lion’, ‘If I were a monkey’, ‘if I were an elephant’, if I were a zebra, if I were a giraffe board books, all with a tail of the animal in question and interesting colours and textures throughout the book.

The same theme continues into the farm yard, with ‘If I were a pig’ board book, ‘if I were a sheep’, if I were a cow’ and to home – ‘If I were a bunny’,’ If I were a puppy’ and if I were a kitten.

Bathtime is taken care of too, with bath books including ‘I love my octopus’, I love my fish, I love my frog and I love my duck, all with rings to attach to a handle, and a fun squirter on the back to catch Daddy by surprise.

The Jellykitten tails books are fantastic fabric books all with tails of the animals in question: including Pet tails book, Kitty tails book, puppy tails book, farm tails book, birdy tails book and jungly tails. And a new collection including Naughty Noses book, Hello Zebra book and Hello Giraffe Book.

The Jellykitten My Cow book, My Pig book and My Sheep book are all soft, with dangly legs and fixings to hang from the buggy.

The new Jellycat Chequer rabbit, Chequer giraffe and Chequer zebra are beautifully textured and great to cuddle.

The Bashfuls are the best-selling Jellycat range, including Bashful Pony, Bashful Donkey, Bashful Giraffe and Bashful Lamb.

The Slackajack monkey has always been a favourite, and we now have Tumbler Monkey, which is just as cute, but in a silky furry fabric and with a cheeky grin.

A new product range for Jellycat is the Travel Sets, comprising fleece blanket with matching toy, all bundled up with carrying handle and ready to travel. Includes Blue Bunny & Blanket, Pink Bunny & Blanket, Bashful Pony and Bashful Calf. The Blue and Pink bunnies are both stripey, and the blankets plain fleece with stripey trim. The Bashful pony blanket is pony-print, and a cow-print blanket matches the Bashful calf toy.

Cotswold Kids always has a good value range of baby layette items, including a fleece cuddle wrap, in white, cream, pink or blue, with bunny motif. Plus jersey or velour sleep suits in quality brands Beebo, Caroline Jane and Zip Zap, at excellent prices.

Perfect as baby gifts, we have slogan sleep-suits and body-suits from Edward Sinclair, in plain colours as well as stripes. Including cute slogans such as ‘Does my nappy look big in this?’, I’ll have a bottle of the house white’, ‘Party, my crib, 3am!’ and ‘I’m the little sister/brother’, plus matching sweat shirts with ‘I’m the big sister/brother’, for older children up to 7 years of age.

The strawberry theme starting with Merry Berries hats continues with bibs from Beauty and the Bib, with classic red strawberry, as well as baby pink and baby blue, and unisex cream with gold, in lovely, double-faced cotton towelling. Plus blue cupcake and pink cupcake bibs, and new, reversible bandana/dribble-bibs in funky prints. All £7.95 and supplied in an organza bag.

Sarah Louise is a brand we have stocked since we opened in 2003. Two catalogues are issued each year, and some classic styles continue year-round – some occasion wear, knitwear and staples such as frilly knickers and petticoats. Every season there is a new collection of fashion, new designs in hand-smocked dresses and, in the winter, cashmere coats, for girls and boys up to 8 years. Sarah Louise has a lovely range of special occasion wear, with heirloom christening gowns and baptism outfits, in silk as well as quality synthetics, for girls and boys. Although many are traditional in style, there are also touches of contemporary style, and understated elegance. There are ballerina-length dresses for bridesmaids and flower girls from 3 months to 4 years, plus older girls bridesmaid and first holy communion dresses, up to age 10 years. A new design has now been introduced to go up to age 14 years, for the first time. In the winter, the cashmere-blend coats are always sought after. For girls, there are usually single and double-breasted styles, with matching hats, in red or in navy, and in 2011 for the first time, a dramatic black with crystal buttons. For boys there is a single-breasted coat in camel or navy, with matching deer-stalker hat or baker-boy hat, and a navy double-breasted reefer jacket, to fit up to 8 years. See the full range at www.sarah-louise.com

Sister-label to Sarah Louise is Dani, a small collection of purely seasonal clothing, for Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter. In the summer, there are baby dresses, including one or two smocked styles, and colourful fashion, including two-piece sets and coats, plus boys outfits, knitwear and jackets too. The same goes for the winter, where coats are a major part of the collection, with highly detailed shower-resistance girls coats and jackets with matching accessories, and boys padded jackets, usually to match the season’s separates. See the full Dani range at www.sarah-louise.com

Another label famous for traditional clothes for boys and girls is Pretty Originals. We hold a limited amount of stock of their Spanish-made leather baby shoes, in EU sizes 15 to 20 (birth to 12m approx.).

Smocked dresses continue to feature in our collections, as this traditional style has enduring appeal. Other brands we have featured in the past that offer smocking are Abella and Pretty Originals, and other labels in the market-place at the moment include Annafie, a range that also offers smocked pyjamas and bedding. Contact us if you would be interested in this range, and if we get enough demand, we may well decide to buy it in.

Mayoral is the Spanish label that is now well-established as one of the most popular ranges in independent children’s shops in the UK. Although its older girls and boys ranges (from age 7 up) is more fashion-orientated, their baby and children’s ranges to age 7 tend to be based on traditional styling, with fashionable elements for a contemporary look. Mayoral is renowned for being a great value label with good quality products. As well as separates, there are pinafore dress sets plus polo-neck jumper and tights sets, in matching stripes. Sizing is more a French fit, so I recommend buying up a size, unless the child is of a particularly slight build. For more inspiration see www.mayoral.com. If we can’t supply the style you need, we have no hesitation recommending our fellow-stockist Little Cherubs. See www.littlecherubsclothing.co.uk – Jayne will be delighted to help.
Ruth Lednik is a British designer who is best known for reversible childrenswear, as well as ladies jackets. Every winter we have her lovely reversible girls fleece & wool coats, plus boys moleskin & wool duffle coats. There are gorgeous sweaters every winter, plus matching Ruth Lednik trousers (cord bootlegs for girls, cord straight trousers for boys), a frilled skirt, pinafore dress, sweaters to match or contrast with the skirts, trousers and pinafores, fleece sweaters, and matching reversible gilet (waistcoat or bodywarmer), and scarves and reversible hats. All Ruth Lednik fashion is washable, and extremely well made. Sizing is generous, catering from toddlers up to age 8. See the range at www.ruthlednik.co.uk
French brands we have stocked in the past include 3 Pommes (Trois Pommes) , Alphabet, Chipie, Catimini, Lili Gaufrette, Babar and Peter Rabbit by Floriane, Floriane Girls and Confetti. Another renowned French label for baby girls and boys is Jean Bourget. We recommend contacting V-Elvet in Durham as our favourite stockist of Jean Bourget www.v-elvet.com - V-Elvet also stocks Pampolina and PJE Reload (we have some limited Pampolina stock remaining).
British designer brands stocked at Cotswold Kids in previous seasons include Little Darlings, SULK, Lily Rio, Sting, Chillifuego and Abella. However, changing tastes and a moving market have said ‘goodbye’ to several of these brands, and those that remain are not for us at the moment. However, we do stock the Little Darlings christening range www.littledarlings.co.uk and are happy to order in any current styles for our personal shoppers. Little Darlings was founded by Paula Finnerty and Julian Carter in 1987. Paula is now recognised as being “one of the most influential of UK childrenswear designers”. Aged just 18, she won the Prince of Wales award for design, and from this the business quickly flourished. At 19 Paula was commissioned to create outfits for the British royals Prince William and Prince Harry and later, an assignment to design a new wardrobe for the Crown Prince of Thailand’s daughter led her to her being flown to the Royal Palace in Thailand. Many personalities including Jamie and Jools Oliver, Carol Smiley and Lawrence Llewellyn-Bowen all choose Little Darlings for their kids.

Many people come to Cotswold Kids for that ‘posh frock’ or party dress, and depending on the season and stock availability, there’s usually a good choice, from D’Arcy Brown, Sarah Louise and Mayoral.

Rainwear is provided by Canadian label Hatley, including cotton-lined rain jackets with matching rainboots and umbrellas. Boys styles include Farmer Jack (with tractors) and Rescue Animals, and for girls designs with ponies, horses, birds and flowers.

Cotswold Kids is renowned in North Oxfordshire and West Oxfordshire for christening and baptism wear, with customers travelling from other counties (Northamptonshire, Wiltshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Gloucestershire) for the choice and customer service, at the best possible prices. The ranges include Little Darlings, Collins and Hall and Sarah Louise. If the style or size you need is not in stock we can usually arrange delivery in just a few working days. All ranges provide christening gowns, christening rompers, christening dresses, christening bloomer sets, christening shawls, christening bibs, christening shoes and other accessories; other special occasion outfits are also available in these ranges, and some customers often choose a traditional or special occasion dress from the Sarah Louise fashion range as an alternative to the traditional gown or christening outfit. There are some unisex christening gowns available to enable the family to purchase a single heirloom gown that will suit boys and girls, and be passed down through the generations. Heirloom gowns and other christening or baptism outfits are usually made of silk, and we can also recommend a specialist dry-cleaning company to take care of your special outfit. We also sell garment bags and satin hangers, to protect your special outfit in transit and until you are ready to store it professionally.
The Little Darlings christening range provides a wide choice of traditional christening gowns, christening rompers and christening dress sets plus many styles with a more contemporary feel. There are also winter velvet dresses, suits and capes, for christenings or other special occasions such as weddings. Some outfits are available in sizes up to 4 years, although christening gowns tend to be limited to babies under 12 months. If you would like a gown for the main christening service but worry about the party afterwards and think you’ll need another outfit, there is one girl’s style that has a removable skirt, which leaves a pretty dress with the same look in one outfit. Little Darlings have recently increased their range of christening gowns, and special occasion outfits and party dresses.
Collins and Hall have a beautiful range of gowns and christening outfits, providing a choice of ornate, traditional heirloom gowns to those giving a more contemporary look. Now discontinued but some accessories such as christening shoes and bibs still remain.
There are several labels that cater for traditional tastes in baby and children’s clothes, including Sarah Louise, Abella, Dani and Mayoral. Although there are fashionable elements, these labels are renowned for their timelessness and quality. They are, perhaps, the children's equivalent of investing in a jacket by Barbour or shirts from Hugo Boss, in that they effortlessly combine comfort, quality and style. Sarah Louise and Abella always have a range of beautiful smocked dresses, some available as sets with frilly pants, and we also stock the Sarah Louise frilly pants in white, ivory and pink, to match most outfits.

More Accessories
Trunkis are fabulous ride-on and pull-along suitcases for children. First seen on Dragon’s Den, these are becoming the essential holiday accessory for young children. Designs in stock include Gruffalo, Terrance, Trixie, and new designs Penelope Princess Carriage and Freddy the Fire Engine. With built-in divider with pockets to keep clothes separate from toys or shoes. Complete with pull-along strap. Stickers are also available for your child to customise their Trunki – great fun! See the whole range of Trunkis and accessories at www.trunki.com
Padraig Cottage slippers are fabulous, hand-made slippers, designed by a Scottish lady and made in Canada in what is literally a cottage industry. The ‘sock’ is constructed in wool, the suede sole is lined with sheepskin, and feels gorgeous against bare skin. The natural fabrics mean this slipper can be worn year-round as they breathe, ensuring feet don’t sweat. The baby and children’s style have ties, so can be secured with a double-bow, to prevent little fingers taking them off. The suede sole provides a non-slip solution for tiled, polished and wooden floors, so is great for little ones as they find their feet and start cruising. They make a great pram-shoe, and we hear about babies and children wearing them to nursery, or even in the supermarket. They are machine washable (gentle, wool wash in non-biological detergent, plus air-dry). In a variety of colours, the most popular being the grey/cream, and the rainbow, closely followed by cream/grey, and other colours pink/grey, blue/grey, red/grey and pink multi. Padraig Cottage slippers are available from Newborn (although very tiny!), through to youth and adult sizes. The best ‘first’ size is what’s known as Baby 3, and although this states 6 months on the tag, typically fits from 3m right through to 18m in some cases. Baby 5 (age 1) can fit age 1-2 years and Baby 7 (age 2) usually fits up to 3 years. Measurements are provided. The unique feature is that it’s possible to buy bigger and get lots of wear – and value. If you cannot find the style you need, see www.padraigcottage.com for inspiration. We would be happy to order in your chosen style and colourway at www.cotswoldkids.co.uk
Leather baby bootees are also in stock from Starchild and Daisy Roots (very similar to Inch Blue, Robeez and ShooShoos). In a variety of fun designs, sized S (0-6m), M (6-12m), L (12-18m) and XL (18-24m). These make great pram shoes, as well as slippers, and the suede sole provides non-slip grip on wooden and polished floors. Some designs may be available in larger sizes. Constructed in chrome-free leather, these unlined bootees are therefore safe for baby’s skin and kind to their feet, although it is advisable to wear over socks, simply for ease of dressing. The elastic around the ankle helps keep these on.
If you are looking for a hand-made card to congratulate relatives or friends on the arrival of their newborn, we always have a good selection, for girls, boys, unisex and twins. We can also custom-make to your requirements i.e. for triplets, god-children, Naming Day or for First Holy Communion. We also have Baptism and Christening cards, and My First Birthday cards, for boys and girls. Plus gift-tags. All unique, one-off designs, blank inside for your own message. From Tinderbox designs and made by a special and very clever lady (and friend) Brenda Clogger.
More rainwear from Baggers, in the form of light-weight one-piece splash suits for babies and toddlers, and wet weather trousers, tops and sets, which fold into their own draw-string pocket.