Childrenswear doesn’t get much prettier than Tutu Du Monde’s whimsical vintage-inspired creations. The gorgeous, girly designs are made for princesses who love a little sparkle and magic. No wonder then that over the last few years, the childrenswear label has garnered a celebrity following that includes mothers such as Sarah-Jessica Parker, Rebecca Gayheart Dane, Jessica Alba, Nicole Ritchie, Nicole Kidman and more...
Last week in LA, founder Andrea Rembeck hosted a high tea at Au Fudge (Jessica Biel’s quaint café). Celebrities such as Rebecca Gayheart Dane, Ellen Pompeo and Tori Spelling attended along with C magazine founder Jennifer Hale, fashion journalist Louise Roe and the glamorous French baker Elizabeth Colling. “The afternoon was spectacular – the playroom was filled with buckets of glitter, tulle and giggles. Famous stylist, Peggy from ‘Fire and Crème’ added further sparkle with custom painted chairs, vintage tea sets and our new range of mint and pink pom poms, which were suspended from the ceiling,” says Rembeck. We caught up with the talented designer and mother to find out more about her trip to LA and get an exclusive look at the beautiful event…
Photography: Nicki Sebastian Go to www.tutudumonde.com
Can you tell us about your recent trip to LA?
We have a rather large customer base and suite of celebrities in the States who love our range so we make an effort to visit them regularly throughout the year. This time round we decided to treat a few of the Beverly Hills celebrity beauties and their little girls (and boys) to a high tea event at Au Fudge – Jessica Biel’s café. This quaint little eatery is based in West Hollywood, and has a shabby-chic vibe, Cal-French menu, cocktails and a monitored kid’s playroom. It was the perfect setting for our gathering. Ironically, the party was supposed to finish at 5.30pm but nobody wanted to leave so we kicked on for a few more hours… the delicious cocktails didn’t help with wrapping it up!
Where are your favourite places to go in LA?
There are so many:
Ron Robinson in Melrose and Santa Monica for kids and womenswear.
Melrose Place for Isabel Marant, Chloe and Zimmermann and good coffee at Alfred’s.
Gracia Madre and Café Gratitude for the BEST vegan in town.
Bouchon for authentic French fare.
Malibu Farm for a weekend outing.
Joan’s on Third for a quick bite when shopping in groovy little area where gorgeous stores like Eggy (kids) are located.
Head to Magnolia Bakery afterwards for a sugar fix if needed.
Can you tell us more about the high tea you hosted at AU Fudge?
We each nibbled on delicious cucumber sandwiches, canapes and cupcakes, sparkling Rose, cocktails (oh yes, of course – herbal tea). Thankfully we had a face painter and craft table to help entertain the children as we all giggled and gossiped. The afternoon was so precious.
Why do you think Tutu Du Monde has been so successful in the US market?
I think US mums are similar to us when it comes to letting little girls be just that, indulging them in living their dreams of being a ballerina, fairy or princess by dressing up in pretty dresses precious but not pretentious enough to not dress in them every day.
What have been the biggest highlights for you since you launched Tutu Du Monde?
One of most exiting highlights was starting to sell internationally early on in the life of TDM and being able to grow the business overseas. We’ve been very fortunate in collaborating with amazing local talent including Hayley Sparks and Renata Ferko, Eliza Logan, the international super star, photographer and editor of Hooligans Magazine and the very talented Stacy Rosen from Modern Queen kids. I feel so proud to have Tutu Du Monde recognized by some of the world’s most beautiful children’s boutiques.
What does the year ahead hold for Tutu Du Monde?
We have some very exiting collaborations in the pipeline as well as the exploration of new markets in Asia including Japan and South Korea. Creatively, we’re adding new categories to our collections and looking forward to more shoots in exotic places.
Actress Rebecca Gayheart with her daughter Billie
TV Host, journalist and author Louise Roe
Kymberly Marciano, Andrea Rembeck, Hilary Rosinkranz, Stacy Rosen and Tori Spelling
What are your top time management tips?
I try not to take on more than I can manage and work efficiently during the hours I have available. It’s important to trust your team and be able to delegate. I find endless lists also very helpful – digitally on Trello.
L-R: Model Elicia Starkman with her daughter. Karen Gold Fischer with her daughter
Amy Chu with her girls
Actress Tori Spelling with her husband Dean McDermott and their children
Karen Gold Fischer, Rebecca Dane, Kimberly J Muller, Sarah Cichy and Ambre Dahan.
The glamorous French baker Elizabeth Colling with her daughter
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