A brand I don't hear much about here . . . Hartstrings (funny PICS)

[MeredithsMom]

Are there any amongst the J&J, Hanna, and Naartjie lovers here who also like Hartstrings? My MIL is a Hartstrings addict and always comes back from their outlet (they are based here in suburban Philly) with loads of stuff for Meredith. I'm still trying to get her addicted to my faves (listed above!) but to no avail. So, I'm trying to take some time to feel the Hartstrings love. :-) Most of it is pretty cute, although some of the pieces have a "one gew-gaw too many" look.

Here are a few pics of Meredith in her latest Hartstrings ensemble, as well as a famous photograph that this sequence reminds me of. LOL!

Anyone else have Hartstrings outfits?



http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/25289.jpg


http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/25290.jpg


http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/25291.jpg


http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/25292.jpg

Remind anyone of this? :-)
http://www.watherwax.com/images/fatcatcapsizing.jpg

[khakismom]

Awww, she is so cute Joyce! And the picture of her falling is hysterical!

I love Hartstrings. I didn't use to buy it too much, because it can be very spendy, even more so than Hanna. But I've discovered their outlet 5 minutes from my parents' lakehouse. So I've gotten a few outfits for the girls there. Here they are this past fall in the corduroy dresses, t-necks, and socks I got for them at the outlet. The dresses had whales on them (the indoor shot shows the detail better). I loved these!!

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/25293.jpg

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/25294.jpg

[laretce6]

I love Hartstrings clothing. We only have a few things from there and nothing in DDs current size. She had a really sweet sweater with the characters from the nutracker on it for Christmas Eve and I have a few sweaters in bigger sizes put away for the fall. Some of their things do have a few too many sequins, etc for my taste though. I'm not sure if I'll get much from there in the future because I found out recently that the store where I've gotten most of our stuff (an outlet) wouldn't let my SIL NIP

Caroline
Mama to Eleanor Katherine 8.2.04

[MeredithsMom]

Maureen--

Your girls look adorable as always! Those dresses must be from the same line as this dress Meredith had when she was younger--there's a litte whale on it as well:

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/25303.jpg

I think they are pricy too. I don't think I'd spend my money there very often, that's for sure. Even though MIL gets 30% off everything, I think she must spend $400 every time she goes there. If only she would fall in love with HA and J&J. :-) I know I shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth, but she could save me from myself b/c I go buy what I want from other stores anyway and have Hartstrings on top of that. LOL

Interestingly enough, I met a girl on another message board who works for them and she said there were many disagreements at the company about whether to beef up their web site or not (it's pretty ridiculous). They don't even mail out catalogues. Strange!

Finally, I've been meaning to offer my best wishes for the wee one on the way! If you have another girl I know where she can get some Hartstrings, since Meredith was born in August. LOL

[squimp]

Meredith is just so adorable. She looks like the happiest little babe.

I have one item of Hartstrings - a pair of dark blue, elastic waist cords that I bought used. Definitely a boys item, no gee-gaws. They were fabulous quality, so soft, and fit really well over cloth dipes.

[MeredithsMom]

They wouldn't let her NIP!? That is horrible; I get really up in arms about stuff like that. The only time I've shopped there is last weekend when I returned one of MIL's outfits (shhh!). I too noticed that many pieces had just TOO much going on. I'd grab something "cute" off the rack only to see an extra something-or-other sewn on. Many otherwise cute things were ruined, IMO. My MIL does adhere to the more-is-more theory, however, so I guess that explains why Hartstrings is right up her alley. :-) As I said above, it's not good to look a gift horse in the mouth, but I sure wish MIL would spend her copious dollars at Janie and Jack. LOL!!

[MeredithsMom]

Thanks, Jana!

Meredith knows how to turn it on for the camera, that's for sure! Fortunately, I shield RL from the outtakes. She is actually quite temperamental and, as of late, WHINY! But I'll take the good with the bad. :-)

When I was at Hartstrings I almost bought what I'm pretty sure were boys' clothes, just b/c I liked how simple they were, so I hear you.

[andie16]

Love all the pics of the girls in their Hartstrings. We have some photos of DD toppling over on the bed like that too-so cute.

We have had a few Hartstrings outfits from my mom. Here are two that fit now.

At an egg hunt in March
http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/25308.jpg

Using the phone as a camera-the dress is kind of washed out in the pic, but I just like the picture
http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/25309.jpg

The overall pics were more of DD playing with and wearing the shoes and she happened to have the overalls on so they don't show the outfit that well, but it really is cute. I don't think it's too much and I generally like fairly plain clothes. Should have ironed the flap on the pocket, but oh well...Also, people always think DD is a boy when she wears this (how many boy's outfits have ric-rac on them?!)

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/25310.jpg


http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/25311.jpg

Andrea and Daisy (9/23/03)

[tadylkat]

I love that outfit! Meredith is such a pretty baby.

I LOVE Hartstrings. I don't have a lot of their stuff, but the pieces I do have I love. I was able to find a picture of Kathryn in a sweater I got last year. Sorry it's so dark, but it's the only one I have. This was taken over the summer while we were in Ireland. At the time she was in mainly 6-9 month clothing so I brought this with me thinking it would fit. Ha ha. Most of their clothes run big. I bet this still fits her at 16 months old.

I have also bought a few holiday outfits for both kids from Hartstrings and Kitestrings. I guess I am a sucker for extra gew-gaws. LOL

Can I borrow your MIL? :D

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/25317.jpg

[colleenfs]

So cute!!

I buy Hartstrings at Rugged Bear, which is here in MA and across New England I think. Julia has several very pretty pieces from this company.

~Colleen
Mama to Julia 1-10-02
Baby GIRL! due 7-23-05
http://lilypie.com/baby4/020110/3/4/0/-5/.png

http://lilypie.com/days/050723/0/25/1/+10/.png

[khakismom]

Yep, it's the same line! LOL! :D Meredith is the cutest!!

I also got a similar jumper, but in navy blue, that had horses on it, with the matching t-neck for Ellen too. So far, Kathleen only has 1 Hartstring outfit for this summer, but it's an adorable striped sleeveless knit dress, and I was able to find the matching hair pretty. I'll have to post a pic of it.

And thank you for your well wishes! They are very much appreciated!

[MeredithsMom]

What cute pics, Andrea! I'm at once excited and terrified of when Meredith becomes mobile. :-) And from the looks of her flailing about on her tummy lately, it could happen at any time!

I don't see how anyone could mistake Daisy for a boy, seriously! She is gorgeous. Still, people come up to Meredith sometimes and, even if she's clad all in pink, will ask "boy or girl?"

Thanks for sharing the pics!

[MeredithsMom]

Tara--

What an adorable photo of your DD!!! She is beautiful and has such an infectious smile!

Ooh, and I'm jealous that you were in Ireland. I've been three times before but not lately. :-( I guess that'll be a true challenge--overseas with an infant.

LOL about borrowing my MIL. She volunteers, heads up charitable organizations, and shops like nobody's business. Um, could I have that career, please? :-)

Thanks for sharing the pic!

[MeredithsMom]

Yes, I suppose that they are sold at boutiques and some department stores. I've only ever seen them at the outlet, and my FIL actually told me (jokingly) to stay away from there because it's MIL's territory. :-)

[Mom2Miri]

We had a lovely Hartstrings Xmas sweater this year. I usually see quite a bit of it at Nordstrom Rack in the fall/winter. They often have a group of sweaters that are for the Rack specifically (as opposed to coming from Nordstroms), and these are fairly reasonably priced.

HTH,
Helen & Mirielle 2/25/03

[LoveMyBabyBeans]

Oh cute!! Such a different outfit. I need to branch off into other brands.

[MeredithsMom]

We had a couple of x-mas sweaters too, courtesy of MIL. DD was like Diana Ross on Christmas day--three wardrobe changes to appease everyone. :-)

Here are the sets we had; DD was not too fond of the Santa outfit, as you can tell:



http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/25340.jpg


http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/25341.jpg

[MeredithsMom]

Oh no! I don't want to get you into more trouble, Kerry. LOL. :-)

While I'm thinking about it, I wanted to tell you how much I LOVED the tulip photos over at GR. Andie in that wooden shoe was the best!!! Actually, I think it was originally your photo of Andie modeling the Aviary patchwork jumper that got me into J&J. I had to have that piece and, as you might know, it is a slippery slope!

:-)

[LoveMyBabyBeans]

Thanks!! I feel bad, I posted those over at GR and not here. I should really post them over here too.

[meshell]

Joyce:

I think we may have the same MIL. LOL!

[MeredithsMom]

ROFL!!! Nice work if you can get it, huh? :-)

[slknight]

Very cute! We had one Hartstrings t-shirt last year that I bought at a local boutique. Even though it was the typical striped boys stuff, I really liked it.

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/25345.jpg

You should come to Maine. I belive there is a Hartstrings outlet in the same plaza as the Hanna outlet! :) Then you could go across the street and hit Stride Rite and Ecco.

[Phoebe]

It is a nice brand, but I know what you mean about them being kind of 'busy' looking sometimes. Owen has a pair of denim pants by Hartstrings and they're very roomy with a full elastic waist. They remind me of his Charlie Rocket pants which are great too. I always have my eye out for those on the clearance rack at our local boutique.

Love the pictures of your daughter, especially in those little mary-jane socks.


Mary
DD 4/01
DS 6/03

[parkersmama]

Meredith is so adorable! Love the pic sequence. :) I've had some Hartstrings stuff occasionally for my boys but I don't think Amy Grace has had any yet. I think most of it is very cute but I'm with you...it's a little "over done" sometimes. Thanks for sharing the pictures!

[urbanmama]

Joyce, I think I already mentioned this to you via email, but I love the pics of Meredith!! She is adorable and I *love* her in red!!

[MeredithsMom]

He looks so nautical for his beside-the-water pose! How adorable. :-)

Yes, Stride Rite. They found me this week--LOL. We got a flyer for the first time, just shy of Meredith's 9 mos. b-day. These people are good!

[MeredithsMom]

Yes, "busy" is indeed the word. :-)

I love the Mary Jane socks too! Meredith has 18 pr (shower gifts) and she wears them wherever she goes. Without fail people stop us and talk about the socks. When we were at Disney World in early April it reached comic proportions--15 people a day asking about the socks. LOL I want to start selling them. :-)

[MeredithsMom]

Yes, overdone is another good description for some of the Hartstrings stuff. :-) The one outfit I returned (after I discovered accidentally that MIL really couldn't remember each of the outfits she got--LOL) was just out of control. Let's just say that the matching sweater had turquoise crocheted flowers with red gingham loops coming out all around them. Yikes!

I'll bet Amy Grace would look adorable in Hartstrings, like everything else! :-)

[MeredithsMom]

Now that you mention it, red does look pretty cute! It also has the novelty factor for me, since so many things she has are pink. :-)

Isn't she a ham? LOL

[heidis2girls]

Joyce, Meredith is adorable! I love her name, too. I have a niece named Meredith! The cat picture is too funny - DH has that picture in his office.

My girls have had some Hartstrings outfits. I agree with you and some of the other posters that sometimes it is too much! I buy them at the Rugged Bear here in MA (they have frequent 20% off sales which make it much more reasonable!). I'm also about 45 minutes from the outlets in Kittery but sadly (or maybe not sadly!) I don't get up there very often. I have been in the outlet there and it is very nice.

Thanks for sharing!

[colleenfs]

Is there an outlet in Kittery? Hmmmm.....! Road trip?!

~Colleen
Mama to Julia 1-10-02
Baby GIRL! due 7-23-05
http://lilypie.com/baby4/020110/3/4/0/-5/.png

http://lilypie.com/days/050723/0/25/1/+10/.png

[heidis2girls]

Colleen, there was the last time I was there, which was about a year ago. It is in the area that is next to Hanna and the Gap. I also called them last fall looking for something. Take the road trip!!!

[zuzu]

Cute pictures!

My mom has bought Sarah some Hartstrings pieces. Here's a picture from March of Sarah in her "horsey and apple sweater":

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/25535.jpg

Melissa, mom to Sarah (5/03)

[ddmarsh]

We have bought a few Hartstrings outfits at the outlet. What is amazing is that they will frequently have items that are in the catalogs and stores at the outlet for much less. Also at ours you can get 20% one full-priced item with your AAA card.

[NEVE and TRISTAN]

You know they could have their college paid for modeling for just an hour!!!!! I can't wait to see number 3 in there with them!!!


Neve
Reichen (6), Karsh (3), Tristan (2) and baby girl Bronwyn born March 10th!!!!