Oobi Baby&Kids Blog

Oobi in Tokyo

Our gorgeous distributor and PR agent Ruth in Tokyo just showed Oobi at Playtime. The stand was gorgeous and the show was beautifully presented (you would expect nothing less from a French/Japanese collaboration, huh?). Our stand was cute-as-a-button!

Noooooo Website

That's supposed to sound like the way New Yorkers say "new" - noo. But I realise I reads like NO. Which is OK since, yep, there was no new Oobi website launch today.

Thanks to one of my oldest friends Sasha (New Yorker, hence the mixed reference) for some inspiration on the site. I promise Miss Sash we're getting there!

We'd love your feedback when the site launches so please check back here (or oobi.com.au) this week as it's sure to launch soooooooon.

No? Nooo? Nooooooo!

Ugh.

Some Amazing Charities that Oobi is Proud to Support

We'd like to do a 'shout out' to some of the incredible people that work for the charities that Oobi supports. We have long been associated with Sydney Care who assisted us with donations to support the Victorian Bushfire victims and also with our ongoing donations.

I was reminded to blog about this amazing organisation as I met with one of their volunteers on Tuesday. She gives up her time to support and do volunteer work for Sydney Care because they have given her support in raising her Autistic son. She so impressed me with her charitable nature, her belief and her passion. I was reminded that there are some pretty incredible people out there.

http://www.sydneycare.org.au/

I'm now reminded that it's been a while since we've been in touch with Wurli Wurlinjang Aboriginal Health Services. This is a great group of people based in Katherine in the Northern Territory. Their primary aim is to provide excellent healthcare services to Indigenous Australians and ensure that their level of care is equal to that of non-indigenous Australians. A huge task!

I find their services incredible and their approach is very honest.

http://www.wurli.org.au

WSPA

I can't visit their website anymore it's too heartbreaking. I'm a real soft-touch when it comes to children and animals and Oobi supports WSPA too.

www.wspa.org.au

Malawi Project is a group that was introduced to me by a friend's sister. We donated some products to a charity auction and I read some more about them and decided to support this amazing charity.

Their website gives more information on their healthcare initiatives and their hospital building scheme in Malawi, the third poorest country in the world. Incredibly, the life expectancy in Malawi is just 37 years and diseases which we have eradicated in the western world are rife. You can find out more information through their website.

I'm also impressed by a charity called 'Self Help Africa' which aims to help poor African families support themselves and grow their own food and crops.

http://www.selfhelpafrica.com

www.malawiproject.org

Divine Twins!

I had to share with you the most divine twins. Look at their little matching Oobi outfits and tiny gorgeous feet! Awwww. I'm in love.

Natasha, the twins' mum, sent us this email:

Must admit to never before really seeing the point in tights without
feet - but my twins are LOVING your footless leggings at the moment.
They are obsessed with all things shoes and are forever taking things
on and off their feet. Footless leggings are the perfect solution to
keeping them mostly warm in winter!

Love,

Alex xox

Elisabeth Dress - Notes from a Mum Part 2

Alex: Empress Elisabeth! I think with her fashionable wardrobe your own Empress Elisabeth is a worthy contender. Do you also love fashion?

Linda: I don’t know if Elisabeth is an empress...she is definitely my little princess! She receives loads of attention wherever she goes, with people commenting on her adorable outfits.  Elisabeth is a real girlie girl...she has been wearing my high-heels from the tender age of 18 months. She needs a squirt of perfume when she’s dressing up. Like a lady, she puts on her hat, shoes and coat (by herself) before we leave the house.

I love fashion but I can’t say if I’m fashionable. Sometimes I think I was born in the wrong era because I love the elegant fashion of the 1950’s. I love clothes which are made of beautiful fabrics and well-cut, with a hint of glamour. But I love children’s fashion even more. Children’s fashion stems from creativity and imagination in a vibrant world of innocence and beauty. When I look at Elisabeth, I marvel at her soft skin, fine hair and perfect teeth. I want to dress her in clothes which are as beautiful as she is.

Alex: That's so cute! I love perfume and high heels, she's a girl after my own heart, but I must admit I generally work in jeans and 10 year old Converse that I can't bear to part with. I also couldn't agree more about children's fashion. It takes a note from 'adult' fashion but can remain part of a different child's world of colour and fun (and it's why I'm such a big fan of 'retro' especially the 1950s of course).

Alex: When did you buy your first piece of Oobi™ clothing for Elisabeth? Do you remember what it was?

Linda: I bought Elisabeth her first  Oobi dress when she was 10 months of age, after I became aware of Oobi.

It was the Oobi 1950’s party dress. When I first saw the dress, it evoked so many emotions. The design of the dress was not complicated yet it was quirky and stylish – I loved the vintage inspired style of the dress, the huge shabby chic corsage, the wonderful mix of colours, the beautiful quality of the cotton which together brought about a very cute dress!

Since then, Elisabeth’s wardrobe has expanded with many more Oobi creations...the Marilyn ruffle dress in 3 styles, the April skirt, ruched dress, strawberry crochet dress, cardigan, Betsy knit dress, winter cord dresses, winter shirt dress, Owl dress, tee shirts, cord pea coat, hats, capes, tights, socks, Darcy pettiskirt, Milly dress, Allegra vest and of course, the Elisabeth dress!

Alex: Wow, thanks so much for being a great supporter of Oobi and for allowing us to name our Elisabeth dress after your daughter (and thanks for the great story too!).

Love,
Alex
xox

Elisabeth Dress - Notes from a Mum

Linda (Elisabeth's Mum) and I have had some lovely conversations about kids, clothing and the world in general. I thought our readers would like to hear some thoughts from her. I'll keep posting over the next week(s).

Alex

xox

1/ You named your daughter Elisabeth with an “s” which is unique. Can you explain to our readers why you named your daughter Elisabeth?

Before Elisabeth was born, we had the opportunity to do a tour of Europe. While we were in Austria, we were told about their much loved Empress Elisabeth who was an icon in the 19th century. She became known not only for her beauty, but for her fashion sense. Although she was famous as a fashion sensation, Empress Elisabeth played an important part in encouraging higher education for girls which ultimately allowed women to study for degrees at the University of Vienna in 1897.
We were so impressed that we bought a memento of Empress Elisabeth home (a plate which hangs on our wall). When I was pregnant with my one and only daughter, both my husband and I agreed that we would name our baby after the legendary Empress Elisabeth of Austria.
I love this picture of Empress Elisabeth – 

The Elisabeth Dress

Drumroll Please... This is Oobi's new party dress for the Summer season 2009/2010. The perfect Christmas or New Year's dress, in lightweight Oobi "Signature Dots" with a sweet bow and buttons feature and great wide shoulder straps.

So, why is it called the "Elisabeth" Dress?

It's named after Elisabeth, one of our great Oobi supporters. Her mum Linda has sent us the sweetest pics of little Elisabeth over the years wearing Oobi and we were always so blown away at how gorgeous she is and just how much her mum loves our label (Miss E must have 20 pieces!).

So... I named a dress after her. And, to top it all off, we did a special photo shoot just for the gorgeous Miss Elisabeth. She is the cutest little thing. Look at those amazing eyes!

Stay tuned for a great interview I did with Linda about motherhood, fashion and why she named her daughter "Elisabeth" (hint: she's named after a fashionista of course!). Linda is a fascinating lady.

The Elisabeth Dress will be in stores from 4th September.

Alex and The Oobis
xox

Things We Think are Great

Trin Cooke an Early Childhood Specialist, Parent Consultant and Councellor from H.A.L.O has given us some food for thought. What a brilliant idea and what an incredible woman (an angel perhaps?).

I'm sure a lot of you Mums and Dads will be interested in this flyer. Trin is like an Irish Supernanny! Big hearted, helpful, warm and generous with her time.

H.A.L.O. (Helping All Little Ones) website: http://helpingalllittleones.com.au

Love,

The Oobis xox

Oobi at the Melbourne Show

Wow, what a show. We are almost through the 4th day and will have lots of gorgeous photos of new products to show you really soon... We'll keep you posted. 

We launched our new party dress 'The Elisabeth' after a gorgeous "Oobi Baby" - Miss Elisabeth. She must have almost every piece of Oobi we have made and we just HAD to make a dress named after her. And guess what? It's been a hit at the show.

Keep and eye out for photos of the dress and of Elisabeth in her namesake dress soon...

The Oobis 

xox

Twins, Twins, Twins!!! (or should that be Twins, Twins!!!)

Bronwyn from ShopHouse www.shophouse.com.au thought we'd like to see these amazing pics of the most adorable twins in Oobi.

Natasha (their mum) sent the pics through to us and we love, love, love them! Thanks Natasha, we love your gorgeous bubs (and speaking from experience I know how hard it is to get two twins to look at the camera at the same time...).



Love,

The Oobis

xox

Hi to Our Friends Over the Sea...

One of our wonderful NZ stores. Bubbalooz! Check them out - they've got a fab range of products including Oobi of course!

 

http://www.bubbalooz.co.nz