There are so many mommy blogs out there right now, so when I check new ones out I try to get a feeling for the woman behind it, and her motives. Whether a site is vamped up and ready to explode, or just starting out, I think we need to connect with its author as a human. I recently asked Alexandra Spellman of the sweet, timeless, sophistcated, and relatively new grassroots kid’s fashion blog Bitsy Style about her site, her passions, and her vision. One of the things I liked most about Alexandra’s approach to children’s fashion is that she harkens back to the feeling of the clothing she wore, and that was passed down from generations within the women in her family. The love and effort of keeping vintage clothing alive, and the inspiration it evokes is what I felt made Bitsy Style special. Here is Alexandra’s explanation of her blog:
Bitsy came about after having our first daughter, Lucy. She is my true inspiration, and the reason I was able to find a place for my passion of clothing and styling in children’s wear. I have a background in fashion and grew up learning the beauty in one’s own style, and how to channel that style. My mother taught my sisters and me from a young age to feel good about ourselves and to be confident with who we are. She dressed us in beautiful hand-me-down pieces that were taken care of, and valued; pieces that gained attention but also allowed us to share our own personal fashion while wearing them. Today, I dress both of my daughters in pieces I wore (even some pieces my 50+ year old cousins wore!). My family took great care of these garments and, because of that, we are still able to delight in them! Now, when I get Lucy dressed everyday (she is 4 years old) she asks me about what we are putting on her. I love that. She sees that there is a story behind these items, whether old or new. She is starting to build her own style story through these collections. That makes my heart happy. Bitsy has become a verb and a noun in our household! Lucy will often ask “Mommy, is this a Bitsy outfit today?” or “Mommy, can you Bitsy my outfit, please?”! It is not about the materialistic aspect of the clothing, but rather the journey and special-ness it did, does and will portray. And, most importantly, how the clothing makes one feel!
Lucy and I would be stopped almost everyday and asked where something she was wearing was from. Sometimes I would respond with an emotional grin, “It was mine when I was her age,” or, “Oh! I found this on the sale rack!” Or, my favorite, “My grandmother knit that for me when I was a baby!” I’ve come to realize that because I have instilled the value of owning one’s style in Lucy, these collections set her apart from others. It was then that I decided to start blogging. I wanted to share my fun finds, and how I came to style these vintage and non-vintage pieces together to create Lucy’s look. People had been asking, and I wanted to share!
Since we are in the early stages of building Bitsy Style, I’m learning that a lot goes into making it tick. I am easily inspired, so to find designers, brands, collections, product, etc. to write about is the easiest and best part of my job! I’ve also met many great people in children’s wear that are so very inspiring, so that keeps my head in the game. There is a lot we’re learning and have definitely hit some roadblocks and many late nights, but because this is such a strong passion we keep our eyes focused. Just like any business, we have good days and bad and will always expect that. My husband is my biggest supporter and I say very often that I would not be able to fulfill this dream if he wasn’t behind me every step. He is my emotional support most of all, but also acts as CFO and CIO J. He is a wonderful father to our two daughters, and makes our everyday lives happen! When I grow up I want to be just like him. For real. Life with two children is definitely a game-changer, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world. We welcomed Greer one year ago, and her little personality and style is just starting to join us. I cannot wait to see what inspiration she lends to Bitsy! Whether unique, mainstream or just plain-old functional (but always stylish), we strive to find pieces that will make your heart happy! The children’s wear world is exploding with amazing designers that have their own passions, no matter what they may be. Please ride along with us, so we can discover them together!
We are hoping to create a strong readership for the brand, and want it to be a go-to source for children’s fashion, styling and products. We hope to continue to build relationships with different designers and brands to highlight the offerings that fit well within the Bitsy aesthetic.
