In the loop... with Samantha Valentine

What is dotte co-founder Sam's favourite secondhand item in her little one's closet? And does it match up with daughter Lotte's choice?! We caught up with Sam about her must-have and best value purchases... as well as her own favourite childhood item, the one she never wanted to grow out of (it had to be velvet!)

Tell us a little bit about you...

Hi, I'm Sam, Co- Founder of dotte (pronounced dotta!) and Mum to Lotte (pronounced Lotta!)

‍When you look in your kids wardrobe, what brands do you see?

Bobo choses, Zara, Mini Rodini, Beau Loves, Next, TAO...

What's your favourite piece?

Without a doubt the Beau Loves bomber!

Sam's favourite item - a Beau Loves jacket

And...what's your kids favourite piece/s? The thing they'd always pick.

Currently, it's anything pink, or "pretty" as Lotte says, or flowers. She still loves her birthday dress, from August. Her style is forever changing. She's a super girly girl at the moment. I let her lead. Last year it was dinosaurs, and cars, this year is sparkles, flowers, and shiny things. I obviously buy her clothes, but I try to go with, and be inspired by what she is finding joy from in that current moment. It's curated edit you could say.

Lotte in her favourite birthday dress

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What's the most useful or best brand for play?

I honestly think Next have fantastic quality products. They don't break the bank, and they are so unbelievably durable. I dont mind sending her off to nursery in leggings from Next, they have some great styles- leopard prints, polkas, stripes. They wash up beautifully and manage to remain soft and don't fade!

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Lotte loves trainers, and we get some amazing bargains secondhand. The great thing about most trainers, is that you can chuck them in the washing machine. So I don't mind buying them second hand at all. She has always looked SO cute in Huaraches and Air Max's!

‍Whats your best value purchase?

Sleepydoe pyjamas and nighties. They aren't the cheapest (£32) But she wears them all the time, and they are so soft and comfortable. Value to me is calculated, by how often she wears it, and how well it holds up. And I KNOW these pyjamas will be handed down again and again.

What's the preloved item you wish you had 20 of?

Nikes. Lotte loves trainers, and we get some amazing bargains second hand. The great thing about most trainers, is that you can chuck them in the washing machine. So I don't mind buying them second hand at all. She has always looked SO cute in Huaraches and Air Max's! We've had every colour under the sun, and she's had a pair since she could walk.

Lotte looking spritely in her trainers!

‍What's the best hand me down in your kids wardrobe?

We don't have many hand me downs currently, we got a lot more when she was younger, as kids grow out of clothes so fast between 0-2 years. A friend of mine gave us a BRIGHT ORANGE cardigan when she was teeny, that belonged to her children, and we ALWAYS got compliments on that, and i've kept it in the memory box. I love it.

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THAT bright orange jumper!

Tell us about your favourite outfit as a child? The one you never wanted to grow out of...

It was a party dress, I forget which birthday, maybe 7? It was velvet and green, and I just felt absolutely fabulous in it. I remember the party distinctly, at the British Legion, and my Mum had hired a magician. And I managed to get the whole congregation to shout "cheat cheat cheat" every time he did a trick. My poor Mum. I am still pretty muted in my tones! And I do still love velvet!!

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Looking good Sam! Enjoying her favourite velvet number aged 7.

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Visit Sam's dotte shop now to snap up some of Lotte's preloved gems.

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