CONTEST CLOSED. CONGRATULATIONS TO WINNER JEN CHARETTE!

One of Denver’s newest baby boutiques is not only celebrating their one-year anniversary, they’re laying another egg in their Nest on Larimer Square. Nest’s second location (opening in time for holiday shopping) will hold true to their mantra, “clothing, gifts & community from crib to classroom,” with an even heavier emphasis on Denver-based designs.

Nest’s current store, located on 6th Avenue and Detroit in Denver, is packed full of clothing up to size 8, toys and oodles of goodies for the wee ones. So much so, it’s hard to spend less than 30 minutes in the store combing through all the merchandise. From snazzy bibs and blankets, to in-demand clothing lines, organic toys and darling wood puzzles, Nest is a store of yesteryear, before the chains came through and changed children’s fashion landscape. The boutique reminds you of the quaint and special store your mother, father or relative would take you to as a treat. Homey, yet modern in nature, stores such as Nest exist few are far between in the 21st century.

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Black Kite

Over a dozen local companies are featured in owner Caroline Evascu’s Nest. When it comes to mini me fashion, she is a guru, and handpicks each line for the store. However, no brand soars higher this fall than Black Kite.

Owner and designer of the brand, Lindsay Black Mangat, creates boy’s button downs that rival no other in cuteness, comfortability and style. Lindsay, a mom of two boys and a fellow Mile High Mama, is a fabric junkie and hits all the major fabric markets each year to scoop up the latest patterns. Her love of fabric is both historic and ingrained in her designs.

Lindsay was a fashion model as a child for the iconic 80s brand of ESPIRIT (oh . . memories for all us mommas) and has traveled the world over studying fashion and design. While an aficionado of patterns for all ages, she knows what works best for boys aged one to seven years (up to age ten coming next year!), all of which is truly reflected in her brand Black Kite. “I never design anything that I couldn’t imagine dressing my own sons in,” notes Lindsay. Caroline adds, “Throw a graphic t-shirt under her button downs and your kid will not only be stylish, but feel good about the look.”

Black Kite comes out with two different lines each year. The patterns are whimsical and colorful. “When Lindsay dropped off a flower button down for spring, I was skeptical about the sales. I was wrong, Lindsay knows her fabrics. The flower button down was the first to sell out,” exclaims Caroline. “I think I knew I was hitting on the right pattern choices when teenage boys would walk down the street and high-five my sons for a ‘great’ shirt,” adds Lindsay.

The button-downs also have clever names for each shirt representative of inspirational men such as Newton, Cousteau (with little jellyfish on it in honor of the famous ocean explorer), Dali, Rockefeller, Darwin and many more. However, the quintessential cleverness of the brand is the unique pocket note that holds a secret message of inspiration stitched inside for each boy such as Look ‘em in the eye, Make your mama proud. You’re the man. “I’ve noticed that many customers buy the shirts for gifts. So many Denverities aren’t actually from Denver and when sending a gift to a family member or loved one, they want to purchase something unique to Denver and stylish, of course. Black Kite is truly a popular option,” notes Caroline.

Contest

Mile High Mamas is giving away one of Lindsay’s Black Kite shirts of your choosing. Please go here to enter. Contest deadline is October 27, 2011.