New York ? Little girls’ party dresses adorned with ruffles and bows, and little boys’ preppy pants paired with pint-size collared shirts are made for window shopping.

A crowd becomes a chorus singing “oohs” and “aahs” as people peek into a children’s clothing store.

But then come the whispers about how impractical a little silk smocked frock really is.

Both Noelle Tutenuit and Marie Chantal design upscale children’s clothing. They also are both mothers and they say the reality they live with their own families keeps their designs grounded.

“I am obsessed with the adorable but I do realize there is a need for the practical,” says Marie Chantal, who has three children with her husband, exiled Prince Pavlos of Greece. She says she’s trying to bring the two elements a little closer together using elaborate details on mostly machine-washable clothes.

“This line is based on my experience and it continues to evolve,” she explains, citing the addition of more modern silhouettes to the collection since 5-year-old daughter Olympia “became aware of Gap.”

Plain versus party clothes

In life, whether you’re 5 or 50, there is a time and place for jeans and T-shirts just as there is a time and place for party clothes.

Marie Chantal adds: “Clothes require planning, finding the right clothes for the right occasion.”

But there also is a generational split. Parents often buy one special-occasion outfit for the season and then load up on practical clothing, while grandparents make multiple party-clothes purchases.

Marie Chantal describes the primary goal of her 2-year-old line is to make clothes that foster connections among family members.

Choosing clothing for your own baby can be an incredibly personal and important experience for new parents.

“My mother has kept all my old dresses and I’ve put my daughter in them and it makes us all happy,” she says.

According to Tutenuit, the founder of the Petit Patapon label, a childrenswear designer has two customers to keep in mind: parent and child.

“I think a lot about the mother and ask ‘Will the garment make her happy?’ ‘Will it bring her humor, happiness or memories of her own childhood?”‘ Tutenuit says. “And then I think about the child and ask ‘Will she be happy to wear it?’ ‘Will she be comfortable?”‘

As the mother of five children aged 12 to 19  all of whom have outgrown their Petit Patapon togs  Tutenuit says she makes a point of creating clothes that don’t require any special care and can be passed down to smaller siblings.

“Our children aren’t fashion victims. I try to keep some of the spirit of current trends in the clothes but they’re more about freshness, humor and their easy-to-wear aspects,” she says.

Homemade and cheaper

Parents and other relatives who want to put their own stamp on children’s clothes can become their own designers without too much training, says Nancy Thomas, editorial director for Lion Brand Yarn, a partner in Knit It! magazine.

“Children’s clothes are a big element of the knitting and crocheting market. Many people get back into it when a baby comes into their lives,” she says. And a favorite project of novice knitters is a newborn hat or booties because they’re simple and it doesn’t take long to see results.

Most knitted garments for kids are made of cotton or acrylic yarns, which are machine washable. Some wool also is washable.

But the best part about a handmade garment is that it can be custom-made in a child’s favorite color or featuring a favorite motif, Thomas says.

“It’s made with love,” she adds.