You refer to them not by name, but by their Instagram handles. Kid-fashion brands adore them, and fans gush every time a new photo comes out. ELISA CHIA talks to the mums of social media’s most stylish babies and toddlers.
You refer to them not by name, but by their Instagram handles. Kid-fashion brands adore them, and fans gush every time a new photo comes out. ELISA CHIA talks to the mums of social media’s most stylish babies and toddlers.
@tylerhuan Tyler Huan, Number of followers 36,900 Born in Penang, Malaysia Mum Haze, 33.
It all started with the first brand rep search.
I entered Tyler for Babiators’ search (@babiators) when he was about one year old. We were lucky to be selected. Since then, we’ve gained more followers and our photos were reposted by fashion brands on Instagram. We continue to join many brand rep searches.
Tyler is my boss.
I am a stay-athome mum. I “work” for my little boss 24/7 and enjoy every single moment with him. I’ve never been in the media or fashion industry.
Most of his clothes are from brands that I discovered on Instagram.
I get endless inspiration on how to style Tyler from Instagram, where I have also stumbled upon some of the coolest small shops selling unique kids’ outfits. Some of the first few brands that I discovered were Whistle and Flute (@whistleandflute), Ledgers Legs (@ledgerslegs), Rags to Raches (@rags_ to_raches), Beau Loves (@beaulovesuk), Trilogy Design Co (@trilogydesignco) and Hello Apparel (@helloapparel).
I’m addicted to dressing up my boy.
Sometime, I will stay awake till midnight or set alarms for new arrivals because of the time difference between Malaysia and the US. I have to, because some designs from famous brands sell like hot cakes!
I spend a lot on shoes.
I just can’t resist cute and stylish sneakers. The most expensive was a pair of Timberland 6-inch premium waterproof boots that cost $199.
He was born with thick, full hair.
I didn’t even shave his head when he turned one month old (this traditional Chinese practice is said to help hair grow thicker and healthier). I’ve always had this swag hairstyle for Tyler in mind. One day, I asked the stylist to shave the sides and do a layered cut. I pay for his haircuts, but I do have a sponsor for hair wax, Nomad Kid. The wax is 100 per cent natural and vegan.
I get brickbats for his“bad boy rocker look.
I remember that someone criticised me, asking what kind of mother I was to ask my (then) two-yearold to work for me. Some even say that I don’t give Tyler a childhood, and that he is not a doll. My relatives, too, nagged and made nasty comments when I dressed Tyler in black. I do feel sad about all this, but I have my mummy friends who support me and understand what is really going on. I don’t reply to nasty comments or answer their questions. I will delete these and block the users’ accounts.
He enjoys dressing up.
To him, dressing up means going for outings because that’s what we do most of the time after taking pictures. We photograph two to three times a week, each for about 10 minutes or less. Sometimes, we do two out fit changes each session if he is in a good mood. The tantrums of the “terrible twos” do happen.
More about Tyler
DATE OF BIRTH Oct 23, 2013.
FAVOURITE COLOUR I don’t think he has a favourite colour, but he loves rainbows. He gets excited whenever he sees one.
FAVOURITE TOY Lego Duplo.
FAVOURITE ACTIVITIES Swimming and walking the dogs.
Natural light is best for photo taking.
You also have to be fast, shoot non-stop, and then choose the best picture later. I use an old Canon EOS 50D with 50mm f/1.8 lens. Sometimes, I snap with my iPhone 6, as well.
I have lost count of brands that he has represented.
The list is too long, but I will share a few brands: Ryder Rayne Kids (@ryder_ raynekids), Rustic Pickle (@rusticpickle_), Haus of Hendrix (@hausofhendrix) and Oovy (@oovykids). I don’t charge for posting on our Instagram account; mostly, we receive the goods.
He loves furry animals.
We have five Yorkshire terriers and a Miniature Schnauzer. Tyler loves food, too, especially Japanese dishes like udon and sushi. I’m thankful that he is not a fussy eater.
He takes a lot of veggies and fruits.
He gets recognised in public. People come up and ask if he is @tylerhuan. They’d tell us how cool and stylish he is, and that they are his fans. When we’re at restaurants and cafes, Tyler always receives sweet treats, such as a cup of babyccino and a scoop of ice cream.
I’d love to meet...
Ryan Secret (@ryansecret). I love his styling and his awesome hairstyle. He is so inspiring; definitely a style icon.
@pipersienna Piper Sienna, 2 Number of followers 40,100 Born in Queensland, Australia Mum Kerry, 32.
I started the Instagram account to stay in touch with family and friends when she was six months old. People just loved Piper and what she wore. More and more stores started contacting us asking if she could wear and model the designs. I just put together out fits that I like and that I think work with Piper’s style. I have a blog (www.pipersienna.com.au) as well, to share my love of fashion, all things children, and my crazy, fun family. I have two older kids, Bella (@bella_seymour), 18, and Joshua, nine. I have a background in event management and event styling.
Piper enjoys the whole works, from opening the mail each day to see what has arrived, to wanting to look at the photos on the camera after I’ve taken them. She’s happy to cooperate as long as I explain what we are doing and what I need her to do. She hasn’t complained or not wanted to wear anything yet. But she'd wear her gumboots with every out fit if I let her.
We photograph one outfit a day only in the morning when she’s very patient and not tired. She still has a lunchtime nap and when she wakes up, she’s not in the mood and only wants to play. We make every photo shoot fun; I don’t spend long fussing over it. I take approximately 100 photos of each look. If I’m lucky, there will be only two to six photos that we can use. I use a Canon EOS 700D camera.
Piper has represented 250 to 350 brands. I work mostly with companies that I feel suit her style. People can contact me directly, or through our agent, who handles most of our bookings. This gives me more time to work on the photos and content of the blog. We charge different prices, up to A$280 (S$287) per post, depending on what the clients are after. Some want Piper to fly to them to do a photo shoot; others just send us clothes and want me to photograph and post pictures of them.
More about Piper
DATE OF BIRTH Feb 13, 2014.
FAVOURITE COLOUR Green.
FAVOURITE CHARACTERS Paw Patrol and Octonauts.
FAVOURITE ACTIVITIES Doing crafts and cooking in her play kitchen.
I have a weakness for kids’ swimsuits and Piper is addicted to shoes. Usually when I get the urge to shop, I try to stop myself and think about how much is already in her wardrobe! We donate Piper’s clothing. We’ve just made an arrangement with one of the cruise lines that we travel with. I now send Piper’s clothes to the ship, and when it’s in port, the staff gives the clothes to the children in Vanuatu, where they are still rebuilding after last year’s cyclone disaster.
She is a real cheeky monkey. Piper is always happy and she talks all the time! She loves to get out and about, and meet other kids and play with them. She’s very easy to get along with. I couldn’t do what we do if she wasn’t – she makes it a breeze.
@biorkpink Rayden Lim, 2 Number of followers 47,800 Born in Singapore Mum Agnes, 35.
Biorkpink was my childhood nickname. I started this Instagram account to share daily pictures of Rayden. When he was eight months old, he took part in a brand rep search for Mothercare Singapore (@mothercaresg) and was chosen. Since then, we have been given several opportunities to work with other brands on Instagram – Rayden has represented 20. Generally, the fee for a post starts from $100, depending on what is needed.
I’ve always been interested in fashion. I used to be a stay-athome mum and had the luxury of time to dress Rayden in various styles and take pictures daily. We had lots of fun, and it was through trial and error that I stumbled upon the right look and style befitting Rayden. I help out in my husband’s automotive business now, and I only have time to photograph him on weekends.
More about Rayden
DATE OF BIRTH Jan 11, 2014.
FAVOURITE COLOUR White.
FAVOURITE TOY Big toy cars, such as ambulances, trucks, excavators and buses.
FAVOURITE ACTIVITY Going outdoors, like playing on the beach and in the pool with his siblings.
Rayden doesn’t like to wear sunglasses. As he gets older, it’s almost impossible to get him to stay in one position (during photo shoots). Snacks are the important key to get him to cooperate, especially lollipops. Taking pictures with a camera in burst mode is compulsory! I use a Fuji film X-E2 with a XF56mm f/1.2R lens.
I’m a shoe addict. I hope that one day, I’ll be able to collect different limited editions of Adidas Superstar toddler shoes for Rayden from around the world. The most expensive item I’ve splurged on for him is a Stella McCartney military jacket, which cost about US$360 (S$491) with shipping. It’s so trendy and unique, I couldn’t resist it!
He has two older siblings. Off-camera, he’s just like most kids: active, chatty, friendly, fun loving and easy-going. My five-year-old son Jayven just sees Rayden as his younger brother, while Jamie, 14, feels proud of him.
I’d love to meet... Maks (@maks_ model). He’s one trendsetter with many varied styles.
@princessandpotato Vin, 2, and Lin Bubble Choi, 5 Number of followers 11,900 Born in Vancouver, Canada Mum Maggie, 29.
Potato is Vin’s nickname in Chinese, and Lin has been big on the whole princess theme since she was three and calls herself one (laughs). My Instagram account first started as a platform to connect with family and friends overseas. I’ve never thought it was any kind of fashion account, though.
I used to have my own online boutique. I’m a stay-at-home mum. I worked at clothing stores in my teenage years, then as a buyer, and had my own online boutique while working as a teacher part-time. My jobs required me to read fashion magazines daily. Platforms like Instagram, Facebook and style apps, which came along the way, inspired me on another level.
More about Vin and Lin
VIN’S DATE OF BIRTH Jan 20, 2014.
LIN’S DATE OF BIRTH Nov 3, 2010.
VIN’S FAVE COLOUR Black. LIN’S It changes every few months. She’s currently into pink and blue.
VIN’S FAVE TOYS His Jellybean bunny and fi re truck.
LIN’S Any. Her love is short; she moves on fast.
THEIR FAVOURITE ACTIVITIES Beach and BBQ days.
I bought an LV bag for Lin for Christmas last year. It’s a vintage Louis Vuitton bucket bag that I got for US$700. The print is called “Mini Lin” – come on, how could I not! L stands for Lin, and V for Vin. So, LV, here we come (laughs). I think my most expensive purchase for Vin was a US$500 Canada Goose winter jacket. Vin likes black, or things with animals, cars, planes or superheroes on his clothes. He is just too young (to love the camera), I guess. He needs to be bribed with food. Lin is girly and likes pretty things.
I don’t charge for posting and have no plans to, either. I don’t actually get my kids to be official brand reps. I don’t want the pressure to take photos. But we do get clothes sent to us. We’ve probably received around 30 brands.
I use my iPhone 6 Plus to shoot 90 per cent of the time. Just keep shooting and don’t stop and look – you’ll eventually find the perfect shot. Sometimes, when I feel like carrying a heavy camera, I go with either my Canon or Sony.
I’d love to meet... It’s hard to pick one. There are just too many! But Harlow of @thedaddyfashionstylist is gorgeous, and Pete definitely does the best job styling!
@alysiadearest Alysia Kanaya, 3 Number of followers 350 Born in Melbourne, Australia Lives in Surabaya, Indonesia Mum Angelica, 35.
I don’t plan to make a busines s out of this. It was never my intention to have an Instagram account specifically for Alysia’s #ootd. It started as a photo album to save some of my favourite pictures of her. Then my friends started to compliment her out fit and asked where I bought them, so I started adding brand tags. We have worked with five brands so far, all from Indonesia. I don’t charge for posting.
I dreamed of becoming a fashion designer as a kid. But after learning that design alone is not enough – you must also learn to sew – I dropped the idea (laughs). In 2010, I got married and moved to Melbourne. Then, I worked as a regional trainer and beauty expert for Clarins, until I had Alysia. I have since moved back to my hometown, Surabaya, and become a stay-at-home mother.
I love to shop, so I follow children’s boutiques on Instagram. That’s where I found out about brands like Bobo Choses and Mini Rodini. I don’t buy clothes just because they are from the latest season of the trendiest brands; Alysia has to be comfortable in them and look cute.
I try not to spend more than US$100 on children’s fashion. I normally splurge on stuff from Bobo Choses. But the most expensive piece I’ve bought is a Stella McCartney Kids midi dress from last season, for around US$200. A black timeless piece! It’s still untouched in the box. I bought it two sizes bigger and I’m saving it for her fifth or maybe sixth birthday (laughs).
More about Alysia
DATE OF BIRTH July 26, 2013.
FAVOURITE COLOUR None. Whenever asked, she will answer: “All colours!”
FAVOURITE TOYS It’s a tie between 3-D puzzles and Lego now.
FAVOURITE ACTIVITIES Singing, dancing, drawing, making crafts, and folding laundry (I kid you not, she can fold better than me).
She takes her shoes very seriously. They have to match her out fit or the theme. We often debate this. She has 10 pairs that fit, and counting. I have lost count of past shoes and I’m still hoarding a few pairs for future use.
I do this to bond with my child, as well as to document her joy, wit, growth and style evolution. She simply loves to dress up and have her picture taken. She lets me do her hair and waits patiently till it’s done. She then goes in front of the mirror to admire her look. But if she gathers more followers or is asked to be a brand rep more often, I’d be happy. More friends, more free clothes. Win-win!
Photographing kids is tricky. Try not to dictate too much. You don’t want to ruin their mood because you are forcing poses. I usually give instructions only on where to look. Make it fast – the best shots usually happen in the first minute. Always bring positive energy when you shoot. Be happy, but not too happy, or you’ll end up with overexcited kids who won’t stay still. I use an iPhone 6s to shoot all of Alysia’s Instagram pictures.
I’d love to meet... Skyler (@daphneerokhin). Isn’t she the cutest? Looking at her photos always brings a smile to my face.
