Showtime for Shorts Models

MORE THAN 300 youngsters had their turn on the modelling runway for Siam Paragon’s third Kids International Fashion Week at the weekend, putting some irrepressible verve into autumn-winter collections from top labels at home and abroad.
The mall, Siam Centre, Siam Commercial Bank, Canon Marketing (Thailand), Muang Thai Life Assurance and TOT hosted |“The World is Our Runway”, with 22 brands spread across eight shows.
As usual, the young models’ parents were more excited – and anxious – than anyone else, including the kids in the spotlight. There were more than 3,000 applicants this year, ranging in age from four to 13, all looking forward to the chance to get suited up by a top fashion guru and, who knows, maybe become a precocious star in the process.
The Kids 21 store, which sells more than 30 junior luxury fashion brands, got things rolling with outfits from Bonpoint, Boss, Dolce & Gabbana, Lanvin Petite, Little Marc Jacobs, Marni, Oscar de la Renta, Rykiel Enfant, Scotch R’Belle, Scotch Shrunk and Stella McCartney Kids.
Siam Paragon’s Kids’ Planet collection, comprising gear from Catimini, Gingersnap, IKKS, Laugh, Le Petit Pumm and Pumpkin Patch, was just as gorgeous. Chanachai Jareeyathana of Fri27Nov presented a sequel to last |year’s popular “Boys in Uniform” |collection, this time with a “Think” |concept that came straight out of a child’s imagination. The clothes in lively colours and comfortable fabrics, easy to mix and match, could reflect any youngster’s |character.
Designer and young mum Nuttanuch Wongpuapan of Tutti Fruitti showed her “Plastic Elastic Fantastic” collection that tapped Barbie the doll for inspiration |for a great sense of style that’s thoroughly cute. Lace, also used in her adult line TuTTi, remains the signature fabric, |but mingled with other textiles that kids love to wear, so you have sweetness and elegance combined. There was plastic |and leather as well, and new cutting |techniques.
Designer-duo Saksit Pisalasupongs and Pisit Jongnarangsin of the Tube Gallery plumbed the pages of “Casino Royale”, Ian Fleming’s original James Bond novel, for the look of chic gaming rooms on the French Riviera in the 1950s. The Bond movies are celebrating their 50th anniversary this year, so the colours from the cover of the first novel – peach, pale blue and light grey – merged with lemon yellow, fuchsia pink, metallic blue and copper in outfits that had a great sense of fun and novelty.
Kloset’s “A Girl’s Best Friend” line was for every family’s beloved daughter, scaling down the designs and prints of the label’s womenswear so she can be Mummy’s best pal forever. Beige, blue, green, pink and black dominated amid embroidered flower motifs and prints nicknamed Bestie, Samantha and Sonia.
Prapakas “Pakkas” Angsusingha continues to have fun experimenting and the “Kids on the Moon” selection was as startling as it was charming. Again, the grown-up symmetrical silhouette was scaled down to junior size in primarily cotton and knitted fabric, comfortable to wear and in bright colours and prints any child would adore.