Santa Claus is coming to town - tips for getting the perfect Santa photo.

Santa Claus has arrived at a shopping centre near you, and its time to start thinking about the annual Santa photo again. When you still have young children in the family this picture can cause nearly as much anxiety as it does joy, it can be hard to gauge whether you’ll be seeing smiles or tears on old St. Nicks lap!  Pretty Princess is here to help this festive season- use these handy hints to net that perfect shot this festive season.

·         Pick your location.  There are so many Santa’s to choose from! Try and choose one in a place the children are familiar with and will feel comfortable at. If time allows walk past Santa a few times in the days or weeks before photo day. Watch other children have their pictures taken so the kids know what to expect.

·         Build it up! Talk to the kids about what they might ask Santa, and about what’s on their wish list. If you can try to make a day of it- is there a favorite store or playground nearby the family could visit afterwards?

·         Pick your time. You don’t want tired or hungry little Princesses and Princes, if they aren’t going in happy its unlikely they will warm to Santa and a photographer waving bells in their faces!

·         Come prepared. You could be in for a long line up! Make sure everyone is toileted before arriving. Have hairbrush and baby wipes on hand for any last minute touch ups. It might be a good idea to bring along a small toy for each child to play with as they wait.

·         Dress to impress. When picking clothes its fine to go festive but try to avoid red- Remember Santa will be in red and you want your family to stand out not blend in! And remember this means you too! If all goes south you may need to hop in the photo even if you didn’t initially plan on it!

·         If your little one is shy allow them to take along a special toy or teddy bear. Having that security blanket with them may give them the confidence needed to produce a smile!

Check out our suggestions for dressing your Little Princess to meet Santa and remember all orders between now and Christmas enjoy FREE postage as our Christmas gift to you!



Bebe Isla Blue Floral Dress

Fox & Finch Candy Pink Sundress

Eternal Creation Violetta Dress



 

 

Photoshoot Play Day

There was fun to be had at Pretty Princess HQ on our recent photo shoot play day! We invited six very special little Princesses to be the first to try on our newly arrived range from Minihaha. These little Princesses had a ball trying on all the beautiful new clothes, playing tea party and laughing in the garden!

You’ll be seeing some of the photo’s taken by Busy Bee Photography in our future advertising and on the website but we’re giving you a sneak peak at the fun we had with this beautiful range today!

 

Minihaha produces two ranges, Bebe by Minihaha is for girls’ newborn-two years of age and Minihaha’s Fox & Finch is designed for Princesses between the ages of two and eight. The new introductions to these lines are all about summer. Summer colours, summer weather and summer fun!

 

New to the Bebe line is the beautiful ‘Ruby’ dress. Perfect for summer play this sweet dress flares out beautifully at the bottom and features ruffled sleeves and a summery fine floral pattern.

Bebe Ruby Dress

We are also welcoming Bebe’s Isla Blue Floral Dress.  This sky blue summer dress features a row of white buttons down the chest that highlight the tiny white flowers adorning this lovely light fabric.

Bebe Blue Isla Floral Dress

 
In the Fox & Finch range say hello to the Pink Floral Bubble Dress. This one would make a superb summer party dress but would be just as suitable for a day at the beach. Adorably gathered at the leg to create the bubble effect this dress is really something special.

Fox & Finch Pink Floral Bubble Dress

 
The Candy Pink Sundress also features in Fox & Finch reminiscent of retro carnivals, pony rides and fairy floss this dress is perfect for your Pretty Princess’s big day out. Pleats falling from the chest below neat square neckline and perfectly detailed sleeves this dress is the perfect mix of practicality and pretty!

Fox & Finch Candy Pink Sundress
 

Eternal Creation Summer 2012 Range

Pretty Princess is excited to be introducing you to our just-out-of-the-box, new season, Eternal Creation Stock. A feature of the Pretty Princess store, Eternal Creation has long been a favorite of many customers and we’re sure their latest offering won’t disappoint.

Committed to ethical trade, Eternal Creation is based in the foothills of the Himalayas where they maintain good working conditions; provide fair pay and work to keep up employee morale.  Employees enjoy good job security, bonuses, holidays and parental leave. Eternal Creation also provides its employees with a range of free training programs in English, computer use and specialised tailoring. In purchasing Eternal Creation clothing and accessories you not only get a spectacular product you’re also supporting fair trade and ethical practice.

Eternal Creation creates beautiful, high quality products. Their fabrics are durable and yet very breathable and light. The care taken in design and production is evident in each piece. Every Eternal Creation item fits perfectly and wears well. The colours and patterns you’ll find in the Eternal Creation range are truly special and stand unique when compared to anything else available.

If your dressing more then one little Princess the Eternal Creation range offers ample opportunity for organising their outfits to complement one another. Each fabric in the range comes in more then one style of dress allowing you to match fabrics but choose a style that best suits the age and personality of the individual child. The Violetta dress sports an exquisite magenta patterned fabric enhanced by block coloured waistband and hem. The same colours and fabric are found in the ViolettaGemma, which features a flared skirt, a ruffled trim and neatly tied sash about the waist. There are also matching hairclips available for the Violetta designs.

Violetta Dress

 
The same opportunity for matching sisters exists with the Eternal Creation red polka dot Party dresses.

 

Eternal Creation bibs are highly recommended, not only for use with their co-coordinating sister products in the range but for everyday wear. Double the thickness of your average bib they offer your daughters clothes and skin an added level of protection. Eternal creation bibs are also beautiful in their own right so you needn’t feel frustrated covering up a sweet outfit. We’ve welcomed the Eternal Creation Miriam bib to Pretty Princess. Lined with pink piping and dotted with sweet rosy flowers this bib will complement any little princesses outfit even while it protects it.

Miriam Bib

The Miriam bib is cut from the same fabric as the Miriamplaysuit. Eternal Creation playsuits are ideal for the active baby who finds it difficult to navigate a dress. Pretty enough for a wedding or church service and practical enough for a day at play.  The Miriam range also includes the Dress for older girls.

Miriam Playsuit
 

Eternal Creation is one of the few companies we source boys clothes from- because they are absolutely irresistible. If you’re shopping for a little Prince you’ll love the Eternal Creation Marine Stripe Playsuit. This little overall style outfit screams summer by the seaside. Cool and easy to play in the suit has a little pocket at the chest (perfect for collecting seashells) and snap buttons for easy nappy change.

Marine Striped Overall with Hat

 

 

Be sure to check out the rest of the products in this range, we’re sure you will be as excited as we were at what you find.

 

 

 

 

 

WIN AN ALIMROSE TOY

We’re warming up for Christmas here at Pretty Princess! The festive season is only just around the corner so Pretty Princess has decided to get into the giving spirit with a special competition!

Christmas is just around the corner.

 

To enter all you need to do is make any purchase on Pretty Princess between September 1^st – 30^th! Each order will receive a number and Random.org will pick the lucky one. Announced on the Facebook page and notified by email on Monday 1^st of October the winner will be able to pick out their favorite Alimrose Design toy as a prize! Be sure to leave a valid email address when ordering so we can notify you if you win.

 

Alimrose Design Musical Lamb

 

If you’re not already acquainted with the beautiful Alimrose Design toys then Christmas is the perfect time. There is something for little Princes and Princesses of all ages. Check out Alimrose Designs Knit Ellie the Elephant. I saw Ellie in person at the recent Pretty Princess new season showcase and she is even more adorable in real life. Little Ellie Elephant is unbearably soft and sure to delight any lucky child on Christmas day! For new arrivals Alimrose Designs has some very special mobiles and for older children the Do It Yourself Owl Kit is sure to delight!

Alimrose Designs Mary Doll

Alimrose Design Ellie Apron

 

There can only be one winner in our Alimrose Design competition, but Pretty Princess wants to share the Christmas joy with all their customers… so ALL orders will enjoy FREE postage from now till Christmas!

Meet Alicia

Spring is in sight, and with only two weeks of winter to go some Pretty Princess loyalists recently gathered for an extra special sneak preview of some the Spring range. The new stock won’t be available to view on the website until the end of August but here’s a little preview of what you can expect to see.

As winter fades away Bebe by Minihaha has introduced us to their new ‘Alicia’ range. You can expect light cottons in clean whites and pastels, ruffled fabrics, lace trims and sweet floral patterns alongside neat pretty-in-pink pinstripes.

The Bebe ‘Alicia’ Striped Dress, adorned with the beautifully embroidered hot air balloon speaks of icecream, longer days and beachside holidays. The entire range screams spring and summer fun. The light airy fabric used throughout the ‘Alicia’ range will keep your little princess cool and comfortable while she enjoys the sun.

Bebe Alicia Striped Dress

While the days are certainly getting sunnier that nip in the air isn’t going anywhere just yet, evenings out in the spring air call for light cardigans to keep chilly breezes off little arms. The Bebe Swing Cardi in a crisp white will match any spring dress beautifully and is just the right thickness for that in-between weather as we emerge from winter.

Bebe Swing Cardi

Light cotton bodysuits are the staple item of a warm weather wardrobe for the baby-toddler age range. These practical little pieces don’t have to be boring. Smocking and adorably frilled sleeves make the Bebe ‘Alicia’ Frill bodysuit perfect for special occasions as well as everyday wear. Lightweight and easy to move around in, the bodysuit also has easy nappy change fasteners so it’s just as practical as a plain romper.

Bebe Alicia Frill Bodysuit

We’ve all been so enchanted by ‘Alicia’, and there is so much more of this special range to be revealed at the end of the month. Check back so that you too can get acquainted with this Springs’ must-have Princess wear.

Flower Girls

Flower girls make the sweetest addition to a wedding. No one can help but smile at an adorable little Princess as she heads down the aisle in front of the bride. Traditionally flower girls and pageboys represented good luck and fertility for the couple’s future. Today choosing a flower girl is a special way to include a child special to the couple in the wedding and is also a special honour and expression of love for the child’s family.


It’s important that decisions regarding child attendants are made early on so that parents have the opportunity to prepare them for their role. Flower girls should be between the ages of 3-7. An 8 year old can have the title of junior bridesmaid and any younger than 3 and the little princess is just as likely to freeze rather than smile down the aisle!

It is most appropriate to choose a child from the family or a godchild of the couple over friend’s children. However if you have a special child in mind and feel you may need to provide special roles for a number of other children as well consider appointing some child ushers or depending on age and ability have them hand out programs, or packets of rice or confetti for the end of the ceremony.

Luna Luna Xanadu Dress looks beautiful on any little Flower Girl

The Bride should choose the dress however it is the flower girls parents who are responsible for purchasing it, along with shoes and other accessories. The decision should be made in conjunction with the Flower Girls mum who will foresee any potential problems (e.g. a Flower Girl who refuses to wear a certain colour or finds a certain design or fabric itchy). It is best to pick out a very special dress that could be worn again for other celebrations.

One of the fun things about Flower Girls is their dresses need not match the rest of the bridal party- you may choose a dress in line with the colour theme of your wedding or go for a classic white, ivory or powder pink. Pretty Princess has some very special dresses available just perfect for Flower Girl duty. We also offer free postage for orders over $150!

Luna Luna Glitterati Dress

Ensure the entire outfit is organized well before the day, it will help the Flower Girl’s confidence if she can get dressed up: dress, shoes and all- to practice ‘the walk’ up and down her hallway.

Little Leona Princess Pleat Dress

Just like the Bridesmaids the Flower Girl should receive a little gift from the bride on the day. A piece of jewelry to wear on the day is a lovely choice or alternatively consider choosing something that will not only be treasured but will also keep the little princess entertained at the reception? A special doll like our Alimrose Designs LolaDoll, or perhaps a Fiesta Crafts Royalty Finger Puppet Set- she will already be feeling like a real live Princess on the big day so will probably be keen to play royalty at the reception!


On the Big Day ensure there are extra pins, comb and hairspray available for any last minute hair fixes on fidgety and playful princesses! It is best to leave the dress until the very last minute to guard against accidental spillages or scuffs. Remember that a bored Princess won’t make for an enthusiastic Flower Girl- make sure that she has plenty of ‘clean’ activities to keep her occupied in the lead up to the big moment- puzzles are ideal, steer clear of texta’s and crayons and stick to pencils for any colouring in to ensure clean hands and a safe dress!


Sarah Louise Ballerina Dress

Remember that no matter how the Flower Girl comes down the aisle- smiling or not, walking the whole way or carried some of it- all your guests will find her little personality absolutely precious.

Princess Baby Showers

Gone are the days when every baby shower invitation was yellow and the gifts came in an assortment of pale yellows, greens or whites. Thanks to ultrasound technology we’re often blessed to know whether it’s a little prince or princess that the mum-to-be is anticipating. If Mum is lucky enough to be welcoming a little Princess then why not crown Mum-to-Be Queen for the day and throw a divine Princess themed Baby Shower! 

Thanks to modern technology, many mums know the gender of bub before they arrive.

The popularity of princess themed birthday parties makes it impossibly easy to source a bounty of pink party supplies. Balloons, streamers, tablecloths all in pink will set the scene.

Use Google Images to discover thousands of pictures of princesses both real and imaginary- pop into some cheap frames and decorate the table and room with royalty. Maybe see if you can dig up a childhood picture of the Mum dressed up as a Princess!

Put a spin on the usual baby shower trivia and make it Princess trivia! Who knows Sleeping Beauty’s first name? Name the children of Princess Mary of Denmark? Who wrote the book ‘A Little Princess’? etc. The possibilities are endless!

Food can be tied easily into the theme- dye a dip with just a couple of drops of red food coloring- voila! Pink princess dip!  Drink pink lemonade from champagne glasses and provide bowls of pink sweets. There are literally thousands of possibilities for a Princess cake- here’s a charming option from the cupcake blog-

Tiny Princess Baby Shower Cupcake Tower. Thanks to Cupcake Blog.

To turn your Princess Baby Shower into the ultimate event (and to make gift purchasing a breeze!) Why not make it a PrettyPrincess Baby Shower?  Simply fill in a request form and Pretty Princess can bring a boutique of special outfits fit for a Princess right to your shower. Mum and guests can shop together to pick out the perfect items for the new arrival! (And of course guests can also purchase for their own little Princesses as well!)

Pretty Princess can even take the pressure out of planning- Pretty Princess provides you with a Facebook event for your party as well as postcard style invites for you to give your guests!

Sound good? Take the first step and fill in the party request form - click the 'feedback' tab to book your party!