Little Style – The Oaxacaborn Blog

Småfolk, Scandinavian children's clothing on the Oaxacaborn blog

It’s no secret around here that I love Scandinavian design. I’m always fascinated with the contrast between where I live now (Florida), where I was born (Mexico) and where my family tree is rooted (Sweden and Finland, among other places). The contrast is especially vivid at wintertime during the annual Scandi Christmas series, as I’m sitting here in the subtropics, blogging about the subarctic.

Småfolk, Scandinavian children's clothing on the Oaxacaborn blog

Denmark-based Småfolk, one of the Scandinavian brands I love, drew me in a long time ago with their iconic apple design and bold 70s-leaning patterns. And I can’t help feeling like the designers behind Småfolk really gets it when it comes to kids clothes — the designs are bright, fun, stylized, and (what a novel idea!) actually appeal to the children for whom they’re designed.

Småfolk, Scandinavian children's clothing on the Oaxacaborn blog

Had you heard of Småfolk before today? I’d love to see this established brand take off in the United States, too. I feel like there’s such a big space in the children’s market here for this genre of clothing, and style this good deserves to go global, don’t you think?

Småfolk Website | on Facebook | on Instagram

Disclosure of Material Relationship: I received clothing from Småfolk in exchange for this blog post. I did not receive monetary compensation and was not required to present or promote any specific products, nor was I required to express any particular viewpoint. All the photographs, opinions, and experiences shared here are in my own words and are my own honest evaluation. Please be assured, I only accept sponsorship opportunities for brands I personally use and/or would recommend to close friends and family, and I will always disclose any such relationships.

Inspiration, Little Style

A Global-Themed Bedroom for a Tiny Adventurer: An Original Interior Design Project

April 9, 2015May 30, 2017 Gina @ Oaxacaborn

Interior Styling: Gina Munsey | As seen in print edition of Babiekins Magazine

Earlier this year, a kids’ room I styled was featured in the winter print edition of Babiekins Magazine. I shared photos on Instagram and Facebook — but I just realized I never posted any images here on the blog!

It was such a tremendously fun project. I started with the idea of exploring all the different methods of transportation available across the world — ships, camels, elephants, motorbikes. When I walk into this space, I can immediately imagine rattling down the streets of Italy in a Vespa, lifting up high over the ancient ruins of Myanmar’s Bagan in a hot air balloon, or sailing across the waters on a creaky wooden ship.

I tried to pull in as many elements as I could from various countries, too. There’s a doll brought back from a friend’s visit to Kenya, a red and gold bowl and dumpling spoon from Taiwan, pink Hmong textiles, a yellow and fuchsia strand of mirrors and bells originally meant to decorate a camel, an embroidered dress from Guatemala, a row of delightful matryoshka illustrations representing different cultures.

And there’s a cozy reading nook, too, because what better way to transport yourself across time zones and eras than through books?

Thanks to the always-amazing Priscilla Barbosa for capturing this room through her camera lens.

Interior Styling: Gina Munsey | As seen in print edition of Babiekins Magazine

INTERIOR STYLING Gina Munsey | PHOTOGRAPHY Priscilla Barbosa

Life in Photos, Little Style, Poetry & Words

LIFE IN PHOTOS :: June is always full of hope

June 10, 2014June 11, 2014 Gina @ Oaxacaborn

Tropical Blooms, Sidewalks of June

More so than January, June always seems poetic, young, full of promise. Even in the tropics, where there is no line of demarcation between winter and spring, between brown and green, between cold and warm — even here, June is full of hope. I turn the calendar page, and I hear it sing.

“Did it grow flowers yet? Did it grow flowers?” she asks of crumbling earth and tiny seeds and an old clay pot.

“No”, I tell her. “Not yet.”

But maybe this will be the year.

Inspiration, Little Style

LITTLE STYLE :: Polish label ‘Flawless’ is not just for kids

June 6, 2014 Gina @ Oaxacaborn

I love the kids’ clothing brands popping up all over Poland lately! I’m especially taken with the emphasis on knits and jersey (aka “sweatshirt” material) as effortlessly stylish wear. The trend has hit the US in a big way now, but European brands have been using this material for a while now — and, of course, always have managed to do so in a way that doesn’t come across as sloppy.

Polish brand Flawless‘ summer line — which landed in my email this morning — is a great example of this look. And they’ve adapted the styles for all sizes, from mini to mama and papa!

I can definitely see myself wearing everything from this collection. What’s your take on the comfy chic trend?

Inspiration, Little Style

LITTLE STYLE :: Pale Pastel Girls’ Room Inspiration from Serena & Lily

June 5, 2014 Gina @ Oaxacaborn

Serena and Lily Coral Grey and Navy Girls Room

This isn’t a sponsored post — it’s just my imaginary wallet and I talking a walk through the summer 2014 Serena & Lily catalogue. ;)

1. Fox sheets
2. Houses print
3. Ceramic elephant side table
4. Today pillow
5. Sun print
6. Polar bear
7. Pouf
8. Inlay mirror
9. California pillow
10. Blanket
11. Sea gull print
12. Basket
14. Rug

See anything here you’d love to snatch up for your own home?

Little Style, Poetry & Words

LITTLE STYLE :: When it comes to LEGO® bricks, pink is just another color

February 2, 2014 Gina @ Oaxacaborn

Modern legos for girls

This is my daughter. That is her LEGO collection.

You may notice a light smattering of pink.

Ah, pink. Nothing gets bloggers’ undies in a bunch faster than the mention of pink LEGO bricks. I might even lose my blogger card.

Can you imagine the kerfuffle in 1962 when LEGO introduced motors? The audacity! The nerve! The beginning of the end of children’s creativity!

Thankfully, there were no bloggers in 1962.

So, let’s skip forward a bit and start where most of the LEGO diatribes begin: the now infamous 1981 LEGO ad. It’s completely endearing and delightful! And it advertised universal building sets. The universal building sets were awesome.

LEGO 1981 ad

But pink bricks alone hardly will destroy a girl’s — or boy’s for that matter — childhood.

Pink is just a color.

By vilifying pink LEGO sets, we give a color (a color!) far more power than it ever should have. When we gasp at pink bricks, we’re saying the toy is more powerful than the imagination of the child playing with it.

Let’s chill out. It’s just pink. And besides, this color isn’t the worst thing Lego is introducing to our children. I present to you . . . The Simpsons in LEGO form, coming February 2014.

So, let it go. Shake your pinkophobia out.

In a few more days we’ll all have something else to blog out.

New Legos are not harming little girls. Pink is just a color

Life in Photos, Little Style

LITTLE STYLE :: “Combing back your yellow hair…”

January 30, 2014January 30, 2014 Gina @ Oaxacaborn

Toddler haircut bob with short bangs

Courtney Courtney upcycled dress

Aveline in a pretty little courtneycourtney dress.

Life in Photos, Little Style

LITTLE STYLE :: That time I opened a children’s clothing shop to bring European childhood to the US

November 20, 2013 Gina @ Oaxacaborn

Ikea Poang chair in Off white

Tall windows in bedroom, messy bed, trees outside window

Mix and match Ikea bedding in white

She finds her way into our bed every morning, her stuffed “Mister Fox” in one hand and a whole cascade of giggles filling the space around her.

It’s Josiah that carries her into our room, between the pressing down of the glass-and-silver French Press, and the deft opening of the blinds.

And we start every day this way, with laughter that’s a necessary antidote to my morning-challenged self.

God knows exactly what we need.

Every day is full to overflowing with this big personality of hers. It fills the room, it fills my heart, and the soundwaves definitely fill my ears. I can’t even begin to wrap my head around how many times she asked me yesterday, “What’s zis lo name, mummy? What’s zis lo name?” I tell her it’s “mummy”, and…she isn’t buying it.

We work on together, through the day, while Josiah is at work, our days filled with the chores that keep the home humming, errands out into tropical air that confuses our Christmas-leaning brains, and more beads and crayons and alphabets that you could ever imagine.

Yesterday, I added another item to our daily routine, too, with the launch of a brand-new children’s clothing website, LENKA AND THE FAWN. (Eeeee!) I can’t believe that in June, it all began with this simple poll and now, in November, the concept has grown into a real, live, working retail shop.

If you’ve been reading Oaxacaborn for a while, you know my story. You know I was born in Mexico, lived in the former Yugoslavia in Europe and then came to America right before I turned 8. Lenka and the Fawn is an extension of that story.

And if you like, you can read more here.