Simple or Swank

Tweed is always in! As soon as temperatures start to drop, coats start coming out of the closet — and the one trend that never seems to skip coat season is tweed. The woolly woven fabric is a Fall favorite among trendsetters, so why not jump aboard the tweed trend this season with a ladylike and sophisticated tweed coat for mama's mini fashionista?

• Simple: This Marled Tweed Coats for Baby ($30) features a wide shawl collar and three oversize button closures — the perfect dress coat alternative for those seeking the sophisticated look of tweed.
• Swank: This sweet Neon Tweed Jacket ($58) is perfect for the holidays! The double-button placket and flapped-welt pockets at front give this wee coat a grown-up look.

Which do you prefer?

For the love of all things gray! We can't get enough of the gray trend in nurseries, and we know you can't either. Mamas have increasingly been turning to all shades of gray when it comes to painting the nursery walls, but if you feel like you just don't want to commit to something so bold, why not add a little gray to your baby room decor with a modern gray crib?

• Simple: The Modena 3-in-1 Fixed Side Crib by Baby Mod in Cool Grey ($200) is made of sustainable pine wood, featuring clean lines and simple forms. A perfect — and affordable — fit for a modern nursery!
• Swank: The ever-popular Oeuf Sparrow Crib in Gray ($730) is expertly crafted in Europe from solid birch. It's got the design that mamas love with a gray finish. It's a minimalist's dream come true!

Which do you prefer?

Vroom, vroom! It's no secret that kids love cars, trucks, and things that go — that's why nursery design firms spend so much time making bedding and room accessories featuring all kinds of vehicles. While vintage styles always look cute in baby's room, more modern designs — especially those featuring silhouettes of the vehicles — continue to attract decorating moms-to-be. Check out a couple of our favorite options for any budget.

Simple: Carter's may be synonymous with soft-as-can-be layette and baby clothes (not to mention fabulous basics like undershirts and pajamas), but the 146-year-old company is now expanding into the world of nursery furniture and bedding and is making a grand entrance. Its Bumper-Bumper Collection ($160) is just one of four modern collections that include a fitted sheet, reversible quilt, dust ruffle, and diaper stacker. Bumpers can be added to the sets for an additional $60.

Swank: The industry leader in clean, modern design for babies and kids, DwellStudio revolutionized the nursery industry when it first introduced its crib bedding designs. One of the company's most popular sets, the Dwell Transportation Crib Bedding ($360) comes with a fitted sheet, play blanket, dust ruffle, and bumper.

Which do you prefer?

As the largest land mammal, elephants are symbols of power, strength, and wisdom. Elephants are über trendy among the pint-sized crowd and the lovable animals can be found everywhere — as a child's cuddly toy, a storybook character or a midcentury modern stool, to name a few! These two stools depict the pachyderms in different ways. Which do you prefer?

• Simple: Vitra's Elephant Stool ($145) is a reproduction of the original 1954 stool designed by Sori Yanagi. Made from recyclable polypropylene, it's lightweight, stackable, and easy to clean!
• Swank: Vitra's Eames Elephant ($290) is a reproduction of the limited-edition midcentury plywood toy elephant designed by Charles and Ray Eames. Available for the first time ever in plastic, this little guy will quickly become your tot's new best friend.

Mid-century modern, often referred to as "mod" or retro, is making a huge comeback. Harry Bertoia's collection of chairs are classic pieces from the modern era and loved by contemporary furniture collectors worldwide. Mini replicas of Bertoia's famous chairs are now available for tots to enjoy as well. Is your child a modernist in training?

Simple: Little Bert ($89) is an inexpensive alternative that resembles a Bertoia side chair. It fits well into small spaces and it's easy for kids to move around.

Swank: Bertoia Diamond Lounge Seating ($604) is a welcome addition in any room. This pint-sized chair is a replica of Bertoia's diamond chair.

An unadorned crib allows the option to accessorize with color and change up the decor of baby's room without breaking your future piggy bank. If you decide to skip a crib painted with bright colors, invest in a plain piece that pairs well with plenty of looks — you might go with nautical one season and black and white the next. Check out a couple of our favorite options for any budget.

Simple: The Bloom Alma Crib ($400) has a hint of steel detailing, but is largely a plain crib canvas you can dress up with any look you like.

Swank: The white Sparrow Crib ($730) features the same simple and sleek aesthetic, but a more retro-mod design for a slightly heftier price tag.

Is it possible to dress like Violet Affleck and the rest of Tinseltown's tots at Target prices? When I first heard that celebaby favorite Splendid Littles would be teaming up with Target for an affordable collection of their popular play clothes, I was skeptical that they could recreate their signature soft fabric at a price the masses could afford. So imagine my surprise when I ran up to my local Target hours before the Boxing Day Blizzard to pick up some boots for the kids and came across the adorable collection.
Simple: Hold up a Splendid Littles for Target shirt next to the original collection and I dare you to feel a difference. Feeling every bit as soft and comfy as the line found at high end department stores, this White/Navy Two Piece Dress Set ($19) features the designer's stripes in the familiar polyester/cotton/modal blend.

Swank: The Splendid Littles Striped Tunic and Leggings set ($75) adds some tab details to the tunic's cuffs and two patch pockets to the top, while using a cotton/modal/polyester blend that is higher in cotton than the less expensive version. Which do you prefer?

The Splendid Littles for Target limited edition collection also includes clothes and accessories for lil ones sizes newborn to 5T.

A baby can see an entire city even before he can walk! Rugs offer lil ones a soft place to sit and serve as a play mat for various activities (including classic outdoor games). These carpets provide kids with a road map for an afternoon of fun.

Simple: L.A. Rug's Driving Time ($55) is a plush nylon rug that uses bright colors to depict a small town that can be populated by toy people, cars, and trucks.

Swank: Danish by Design's Traffic Rug ($185) uses a rug's pile to create a 3D effect for more realistic play. The low-pile roads and parking lots are conducive to toy car use, while the plush parks and backyards are softer for more playtime activities.

Which do you prefer?

Speed up the walk to school with a scooter! Made for youngsters, these models boast three wheels and wider foot decks for more stability than the big kid versions. Since your tot will be whizzing by his classmates, there's no longer an excuse for being tardy.

Simple: This Razr Jr. scooter ($40) is stable, stylish, and folds up for easy storage (and mom to carry) when the rider is too tired to scoot. Made for children age 3 and up, it holds kids until they weight 45 pounds.

Swank: The Kettler Thunder scooter ($120) adjusts to meet the height of your 18-month to 4-year-old, and is made to hold up to 100 pounds. The big front tire allows your tot some time to perfect his balancing act.

Which do you prefer?

Reach and stretch! Even before a baby can sit or stand, she will begin stretching for objects in eyesight. Play mats and gyms provide lil ones with colorful objects to reach for while encouraging them to lift their heads and kick their feet. In doing so, tots also learn about cause and effect – seeing the dangling objects move as a result of their actions.

Simple: Ikea's Leka play gym ($25) is made from molded birch plywood and features three distinct wood and plastic hanging objects to entice tots to play.
Swank: The Hess Wooden Triangle Baby Gym ($75) features a simple wooden frame with dangling colored beads and rattles for infants to grab and swat at as they begin to experiment with hand-eye coordination.

Which do you prefer?