Here’s Everything I Loved From Caramel’s Collection for Zara
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Caramel London, the childrenswear brand founded by Eva Karayiannis in 1999, just launched a multiseason collection with Zara that includeschildrenswear,womenswear, and accessories. I first learned about Caramel through my most discerning and stylish mom friends, one a professor at FIT and another a designer at Ralph Lauren. Known for its focus on material and craftsmanship, the brand evokes an old-world sensibility with muted, washed colors, and a lot of florals, paisleys, and stripes. Many of the pieces are gender-neutral. The overall aesthetic has always struck me as rural-chic, something your children would wear while frolicking in a field of flowers, headscarf and all. The clothing is beautiful but expensive. I once bought a yellow checked shirt with a ruffled collar on sale for my older son when he was a baby, even though it was technically for girls, because it was the only thing left in his size.
The collaboration makes Caramel much more accessible, with prices ranging from $9.90 to $69.90 for children and $29.90 to $169 for women. I got a chance to preview the collection ahead of the launch and also talk to Karayiannis. The first thing I noticed was how nice the cottons, linens, and blended viscose and lyocell pieces felt. Karayiannis explained to me that fabric is always one of her starting points. “I care enormously about texture, softness, weight, and how something feels when it is worn,” she says. “I wanted the pieces to feel a sort of worn-softness from the beginning, almost as though they had already belonged to someone for a long time. I think that sense of ease is very important to Caramel.” Here’s what I tried — plus everything else I’m excited about.
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I love the proportions on the cotton-lyocell coat and the way it drapes. It’s the perfect overcoat for spring and looks great as a layer. It’s also the designer’s favorite piece in the collection: “It has a very special English charm that feels timeless to me.”
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Caramel’s colors have always been distinctive, and the collection’s blues, an example of which is seen on this plaid skirt, are excellent. An easy wrap skirt to wear in the summer, it’s made of a lightweight viscose-cotton blend.
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The matching robe, which could also be worn as a dress.
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These linen-blend pants do that chocolate-and-blue combination so well.
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Oversize and breezy, as a beach coverup or an everyday dress.
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This sweet floral dress is made from 100 percent mulberry silk.
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You can wear this silk top with matching skirt as a set or as separates.
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A linen sweater to throw over everything.
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I love the linen-and-silk blended fabric of this knit top.
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I love the rustic ease of this deep brown linen dress.
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They’re a bit like children’s bloomers but they have their appeal…
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… especially when styled with the matching poplin bra top.
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These leather ballet Mary-Janes also come in red.
Childrenswear
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I love the bubble-silhouette of this baby romper.
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This floral dress comes with bloomers.
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A linen top in the most beautiful terracotta hue.
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Cotton-linen gingham shorts (there’s a matching coat and pants, too).
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How sweet is the Peter Pan collar on this gingham trench? Wear it with the matchingpants.
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A cozy terry sweatshirt for post-beach evenings.
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I love how this cotton shirt looks like an artist’s smock.
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As does this style. There’s also adress version.
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A brick-red tank top to go with just about any bottom in the collection.
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A beautifully embroidered shirt with pockets and trim.
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These chocolate cotton-lyocell shorts are one of my favorite pieces in the childrenswear collection.
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The children’s accessories are all very cute, like this bucket hat available also in brown.
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A floral bandana to wear has a headscarf.
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These leather ballet flats have a stretch instep band for optimal flexibility.
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The collection includes swimsuits for kids.
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