A bit about me: I’m not a Stray Ferret staffer, I’m a consumer journalist who loves shopping and loves Harrogate. This month, I’ve been looking at all the lovely things you can buy for children.
The items I have picked are my personal choices – I haven’t been paid to feature them.
BRIDESMAIDS DRESS, Monsoon, St James St. From £55.
This is understated and elegant, as these frocks go, in ivory with accents of pink in the waist sash and corsage. And great value, especially if you have a whole bevvy of bridesmaids to kit out.
If you know a little girl who loves all things sparkly, she’ll find shoes, bags, party dresses, hair accessories and everything else in pastels, sequins and jewels here. Plus Monsoon does a couple of really smart non-sparkly ‘Sunday best’ coats which take me back. I believe it’s compulsory to complete that look with some patent shoes, which Monsoon can also supply you with.
QUILTED JACKET, JoJo Maman Bebe, Oxford Street. £32
Speaking of Sunday best, a young chap could do worse than sport this navy smart-casual number. Sized from 6 months to 6 years – never a scruffy moment for the very young man about Harrogate. Wouldn’t look out of place on a small royal, surely? In fact, I think heir-but-three to the throne (and 49 on GQ’s list of ’50 Best Dressed Men in Britain’) Prince George of Cambridge might have worn this look, if not the garment itself.
You don’t need me to tell you that JoJo Maman Bebe is an upmarket, French-inspired chain.
Great swimming accessories and bathtime ranges too.
HAMISH HIGHLAND COWS, The White Company, St James St. £22
There’s a really strong selection of gifts for children to be had here – and the range is particularly good for babies and infants. Plus, it being The White Company, they’re excellent quality.
Everything feels super soft, smells lovely and is very tasteful. So if there’s a newborn to be celebrated or a little one to spoil, this is a good place to start. Real cows, particularly ones with horns can be quite scary, especially to us city folk, but these are adorable.
PIRATE SHIP IN A TIN, Jespers, Oxford St. Around £12
There are loads of crafts, games, puzzles and art materials in Jespers to keep children creative – and happy. The ‘gift in a tin’ range is fantastic: you can build a pirate ship or a fighter plane, press some flowers, sew a lama, or start your first garden. Great for gifts, or just for a long journey.
Plus, adults who have a ‘thing’ for stationary (eg me) can indulge their inner geek by browsing Jespers superb collection in the impressively refurbished store.
It’s been in Harrogate since 1901 and still has the feel of a lovely, loved, family firm.
VINTAGE BIRTHDAY CARDS, Space Vintage, The Ginnel. £2 each
I love the 50s/60s vibe of these cards, and the simpler, more innocent times they take you back to. So what if the adults appreciate that more than the kids on the receiving end? Buying vintage is much better for the planet – a consumerist version of recycling – so is a good thing.
Space Vintage also stock old Ladybird books and toys from times gone by.
DONKEYS, Maturi Bag and Baggage, Parliament Street. prices vary, from about £18
Editor’s pick: “I love a donkey. My sister and I had very similar ones, with the dark eyes and cute noses. We loved them so much they went bald from excess handling in the end.”
What an interesting, old fashioned store. Besides bags and baggage, Maturi also sells hundreds, maybe thousands of ‘collectable’ soft toys for children. All the big names in teddies are here: Hermann, Aurora world, Jellycat plus many, many more.
But beware: an animal soft toy collecting habit is potentially very expensive as there are no end of them. In this store alone, two full walls of the things.
DOLLS, Tiger Fifty7, Cold Bath Road. £35 each
Just gorgeous and highly original, these are dolls to be kept, treasured and passed down the generations. From ‘RosieGirl London’, Rosie also makes a RuPaul Drag Race doll, Frida Kahlo, David Bowie, Vivienne Westwood, NHS workers, and Dolly Parton dolls (a one-off in the collection – she’s got boobs) that you can buy online. So perhaps RosieGirl is also on her way to becoming collectable. She deserves to be.
Tiger Fifty7 is a fantastic independent shop if you’re looking for toys, clothes, gifts, for newborns to teens. They will also sell your ‘pre-loved’ designer children’s wear for you.
BABY VEST, Sophie likes… Beulah Street. £15
Sophie (I presume) sells ‘quirky girly gifts’, including a nice selection for babies and children, including personalised jewellery.
My personal favourite though – what every baby needs – is a vest or bib celebrating their birthright and good luck at hailing from ‘god’s own country’. (Warning – disputed title of course. See also: New Zealand, parts of the US and Zimbabwe, and the rest)
There’s also an ‘ey up’ and an ‘ow do’ vest and bib combo which would cover you if you’re generically northern, not exclusively Yorkshire.
That’s all from your secret shopping champion for now, but I’ll be back in December with a Christmas special.
