It’s spring in Brussels at last, or one could even say that we have by-passed spring for the moment and gone straight for summer. It really is exceptionally warm and lovely after months of horribleness. This will of course pass quickly, so I wanted to take advantage of the warmth and wear something happy and light and summery.

That was the plan at least. Unfortunately, most of the high street here seems to try to bore me to death with their new season offerings (are they new season? could also be from 2007). Partly, this is because Brussels stores never get the most exciting stuff – the reasoning being, not entirely groundlessly, that no-one would buy the exciting stuff anyway. But there is also another thing at play: fun, colourful, interesting clothes ARE made and available even in Brussels, but for children, not adults.

Nowhere was this more evident this weekend than in Zara stores. Now, I’m on the record as a die-hard Zara fan, but haven’t really found anything that I truly like this spring. It’s all bland and boring. But while Zara Women department is full of uninspired athleisure wear, the children’s section is a different story entirely.

Zara constantly does wonderful stuff for babies and children – clothes that appeal at least as much to mums as they do to kids themselves. This season, I feel they have been especially brilliant. In addition to the usual classic (and highly covetable) white-and-blue stuff, boho blouses and adorable florals and lace, there are bolder options too. There are dresses and skirts inspired by African patterns and reminding me of Stella Jean, tiny woven bags with tassels, Hawaiian surfer shorts, billowing lightweight trousers and striped poncho-like cardigans. It’s varied and bold and appealing and I want to wear it all right now.

As the second best option, I have bought half of the things on display for my daughter.