Nothing's too good for my baby
Optical's potential for high-end children's eyewear has never been greater, if you appeal to the powerful combination of parents' love for luxury and their kids
By Amy Spiezio
Chic children are the "in" fashion accessories. Today, movie stars tote their uniquely named cherubs around the world along with their $5,000 purses and glam sunwear.
This trend has trickled into the rest of the world, and the last of the baby boomers, many generation X'ers, and the first wave of generation Y parents are more interested than ever in providing the very best for their kids.
According to the Wealth Report from the Luxury Institute, sales of luxury goods for babies grew 20 percent last year. Because many families are starting with older parents who are more financially secure, they have more money to spend and a more developed taste for luxury goods.
As parents start their families a little later, they tend to have more funds and pricier taste in children's goods. Shown: Minimal X Kids eyewear from Silhouette
| Paying too much? |
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| One of the first things noted in the world of kids' eyewear is price. Parents say that they aren't willing to pay a lot for something that will be abused and grown out of in a year. But their spending in other categories belies this statement. Parents aren't afraid to spend money for the best in kids' amusements, such as toys and gadgets. But kids may only use these big-ticket items a few times before they end up gathering dust in the toy box or shed. Why shouldn't parents spend that money on eyewear that gets daily use? Next time you get pushback, ask Mom and Dad if they've made any of the following "investments" in their kids. These items are listed at the website www.ToysRUs.com: Ages 3-4 years Safari Wagon with Canopy: $139.99 Grand Walk-in Kitchen: $259.99 Motorcycle Springer: $449.99 Ages 5-7 Bratz TV/DVD Player: $179.99 Pink Corvette: $259.98 Sony PlayStation 3 60GV Console: $599.99 Ages 8-11 The Barbie Dream House: $119.99 Garmin Edge 305 CAD Bike GPS Unite with Cadence Monitor: $316.99 Black Louis XV Toy Piano: $999.99 Ages 12-14 Razor Pocket Mod Betty: $199.99 Zune 30GB MP3/Video Player: $229.99 Xbox 260 Core System: $299.99 15-foot Orbit Trampoline: $1,995 |
Luxury works for tiny tots to teens. From styling to materials, these optical options provide a new choice for children. Shown here clockwise from top: Baby Phat Tweens style 118 from Modo; Swissflex Kids style SK01 from Italee; Brooks Brothers style BB686 from Luxottica; and Nussbaumer style Lillifee Wergbung
ELEGANT OPTIONS
Today's youngsters are sitting in the lap of luxury. Literally.
At poshtots.com, parents can procure children's dream furnishings, from a $1,280 Roadster Car Bed to a $47,000 Fantasy Coach. The latest trends for children include downsizing adult luxuries for pint-sized consumers. From Burberry's "Baby Touch" fragrance to yoga classes and spa treatments for the grade-school set, what's good for mom and dad is good for the kids, too.
Tapping into this trend and directing parents and kids to luxury eyewear may be richly rewarding. EB
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