Bastille Day–the French National Day celebrating the starting of the French Revolution back in 1789–is coming right up on Monday July 14! Of course, it’s easy to get in the spirit with some tasty croissants or by checking out a festive event (click HERE for our city pick)–but to keep thing en-chante, we’ve picked out some fun items to keep the Parisian spirit alive in your cultured little youngsters.
French Charm Locket Necklace: For a dose of classic French elegance (and language) that is sure to look just as sweet on mom as it will on any stylish little girl, this Etsy find–crafted from French silver plate–is a tres magnifique choice. $24, etsy.com
.
.
.
Financier Patisserie: Macarons often get all the glory when it comes to French sweets, but we’ll be celebrating Bastille Day with some scrumptious traditional financiers from Financier Patisserie (with 10 Manhattan locations). Traditionally, a financier–which shaped like a bar gold–is eaten alongside a cup of coffee…so give the sweets to the kids and keep the caffeine for yourself! financierpastries.com
.
.
Glowing Crystal Eiffel Tower Lamp: Nothing adds a touch of sophisticated flare to a child’s room like a French-inspired decor piece! This jaunty lamp from Pottery Barn Kids is equal parts frilly and functional–it’s crafted from real crystal and features a four-way switch that lets you illuminate different parts separately. $149, potterybarnkids.com
.
.
Soccer Shirt: Though the World Cup is coming to a close, your little sports fan can keep the excitement of the beautiful game alive all summer long with HM’s sporty tee that gives a nod to the French team. The material is durable, quick-drying nylon making it the perfect pick for all kinds of outdoor fun! $5.95, hm.com
.
.
Confectionery Quilt: Part of Land of Nod’s adorable French Balloons bedding and decor line for this season, this sweet quilt for a twin bed would satisfy the tastes of even Marie Antoinette herself! The fanciness of the bright pastels is balanced with the sweetness of the graphics and the high quality of the quilt. $199, landofnod.com
.
.
Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans: Chances are that this charming children’s book is already on your bookshelf–and what better occasion than France’s National Day to dust it off for story time? Not only is this tale a kid favorite, but it also promises to dleight parents with whimsical illustrations and a decidedly-chic French sensibility [Editor’s note: In my childhood, my parents also treated me to a board game called “Help Madeline Find Her Puppies” in which Madeline’s pets are lost across the city of Paris and the objective of the game was to locate them…amazingly, it is still available for purchase]. Plus, click HERE for our recap of the new Madeline exhibit at the New-York Historical Society! $12.44, barnesandnoble.com
.
.
.
Girls Eiffel Tower Sweatshirt: Perfect for breezy summer nice (be they in Paris or out East), this cozy sweatshirt from crewcuts (J.Crew’s fab kids’ line) features a dreamy graphic straight from the City of Lights, and is crafted from 100 percent cotton for a casually luxurious feel! $55, jcrew.com
.
.
Boys’ Short-Sleeve Henley in Contrasting Stripe: Another gem from crewcuts, this stripey tee serves as homage to the ubiquitous striped shirts traditionally donned by fashionable Parisians and riviera revelers alike. Dress your little boy in this short this summer and don’t be surprised if he takes up miming by Labor Day! $34.50, jcrew.com
.
.
Linnea in Monet’s Garden by Cristina Bjork: Aside from Madeline (see above) is there another French kid-lit heroine quite as beloved as the artsy Linnea? Use this timeless tome to teach your kids about gardening, French culture and history, and the ground-braking impressionist work of Monet all in one bedtime story sesh! If your children really get into Linnea’s story, we might suggest treating them to the movie version of the story as well [Editor’s note: Linnea was one of my very favorite characters growing up–and she inspired me towards a long period of impressionist drawings between the years of 1996-99…which I’m sure my mother still has]! $14.52, amazon.com
