Shopping for back-to-school usually entails buying the basics (tees, sweaters, jeans and sneakers). But what if you have a budding fashion plate on your hands? We recently chatted with The Mini Social founders, Dominique MacPherson and Melinda Marinack to get their take on this season’s biggest kiddie/toddler trends.

Here’s their guide to what looks to consider, plus a breakdown of key pieces you can buy from their private sample sale site this week:

Grunge: (above left)

From Kingston Rossdale to Lourdes Leon, this early ’90s style is already gaining ground. For an instant update, layer a grandpa cardigan over a buffalo plaid flannel and vintage screened tee and pair it with slim cut, faded jeans. A cool military inspired hat is a great finishing touch.

Acoustic flannel shirt(now $24, originally $58) and grandpa cardigan, Wonderboy jeans, Knuckleheads hat, Gigi & Zaza Romeo shoes (now $39, originally $49)

’80s: (above right)

We love bright ’80s hues paired with darker colors, especially army green (jacket) over pink (skirt). It’s instantly fun and looks amazing. To make the look pop more, we added a cool, puff-sleeve message tee, color block tights and hot pink shoes.

Acoustic military coat, Mini Rotation Love tee (now $12, originally $28), Lola Et Moi pink denim skirt (now $28, originally $69), Le Big tights, Gigi & Zaza Liberty sneakers (now $42, originally $52)

Sophisticated: (below)

With its cool modern details (ruffle neckline) and bright chartreuse color, this pretty A-line blouse looks adorable under a classic blue corduroy blazer — complete with elbow patches. We paired it with the “IT” item of the season — jeggings — which are great because they are comfy and have the look of real denim. To polish it all off, we added tie-up purple flats for a chic Paris-girl feel.

Neige ruffle top, Right Bank Babies cord blazer (now $53, originally $105), Chopstix jeggings, Gigi & Zaza Marcelle flats (now $52, originally $64)

Courtesy of The Mini Social

There’s a new lady in town who will have R&B crooner Ne-Yo‘s full attention: his soon-to-be-born daughter.

“I’m ready, man,” the singer-songwriter, 30, tells PEOPLE of expecting his first child in January with girlfriend Monyetta Shaw.

“I’m definitely reading books and paying attention to my mom a lot. My mom is the caretaker, so any question that I have, I’m sure she’ll be able to answer.”

Mom’s best advice so far? “Know how to toe the line between being a friend and parent. You don’t want to be too much of a friend but you don’t want to be so much of a parent that your child doesn’t have a friend in you.”

Between choosing baby names — “We like Madeline right now” — and prepping for the big day (“I gotta be there when my first born is born, no question”), the Grammy-winner is also preparing for the October release of his fourth album, Libra Scale.

During the Atlanta stop of his Champagne Life tour, a partnership with Moët & Chandon, the multiplatinum superstar spoke excitedly about his new music. The album, which Ne-Yo originally planned as an actual film, was split into seven parts which will each be depicted in a series of extended music videos.

Says Ne-Yo, “We decided to chop the script up and tell the story through the videos. This is the most different album I’ve recorded to date. The concept is asking yourself if you had to choose between love, money, power and fame, which would you choose?”

Ne-Yo’s answer is quite clear in his vow to take a self-imposed paternity leave after his daughter is born.

“I’m gonna take a little bit of time off, maybe a month or so. For me to be there and then leave the next day? I can’t do it like that… I’d love to take more time but I gotta make sure that college tuition gets paid so I gotta be back on that road,” he says with a laugh.  ”I’m looking forward to the journey.”

– Tiffany McGee

We’re big fans of Flip Video‘s cool mini cameras. Not only can you catch your kids cutest moments, but they’re so compact you can take them anywhere — even underwater.

As part of their ongoing Flip for Good™ philanthropic initiative, they’ve signed on to support the 2010 Life is good Festival (Sept. 11 — 12 in Canton, Mass.) by offering limited-edition Life is good branded cameras.

They’re also going to match every purchase by donating a free camera to the Life is good Kids Foundation, which helps children overcome life-threatening challenges such as violence, illness and extreme poverty.

Featuring loads of kid-friendly acts including Jason Mraz, Ben Harper and Ziggy Marley, the concert will be a fun time for the whole family. And all of the proceeds will be donated to the foundation.

Tickets are available at Lifeisgood.com/Festival. Fans attending the festival who purchase one of the limited-edition Flip Video camera online prior to the event will be rewarded with a Life is good T-shirt and entrance to a special VIP area located next to the main festival stage.

Want one of these cool cameras for yourself? You can either buy one here or enter for your chance to win a MinoHD 2 Hour version from Flip Video.

Hurry up! Online entries must be received between 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time (“ET”) on 9/6/10 and 11:59 p.m. (ET) on 9/12/10. See Official Rules.

Jennifer Hudson is saying goodbye to the Sunshine State and hello to the Windy City!

The singer/actress — who has been living in Florida with her fiancé David Otunga and their 1-year-old son David Daniel Jr. — is gearing up to make a move back to her hometown of Chicago.

“With the baby growing up, we want him to be around our family,” the new mom, 28, tells Michigan Avenue. “We feel so secluded. Both David and I are the babies of the family, and we want to be home with our families as well.”

A fan of photography, Hudson will no doubt document the big event — but insists her baby boy has no problem in front of the camera. “I love to take photos and because I love pictures so much [my son David] is used to taking pictures,” she laughs.

From posing for snapshots to cutting a new pair of teeth, not much fazes baby David, says Hudson.

“I’ve got the sweetest little baby in the world. He just got two new teeth, so he smiles with them now,” she reveals. “He pokes them out there, like, ‘Look at my teeth.’”

– Anya Leon

Love the whoosh of wind in your face as you whirl around town on your bike?

Little Levi McConaughey sure does…and your baby will, too, thanks to Wee Ride.

Easy-to-install, the company’s center-mounted bike carriers make it easy to tool around your tots.

The sturdy Kangaroo ($80, left) seats most toddlers — 12 months and older and up to 40 pounds — comfortably.

As for the ride, if you’ve been using a rear-mount carrier or trailer, be prepared, this will be quite different.

The center of gravity is very different, and while it isn’t a hindrance or unsafe, it does take some getting used to.

But once you have it figured out, the benefits quickly become clear: Now you can chat freely with your baby, take in the sights together and keep a protective pair of arms around him at all times.

To shop the collection, go to WeeRide.com.

Currently out on tour, Creed frontman Scott Stapp is enjoying his downtime with his own personal fan club: his family!

“I’m fortunate my family can just stay together,” the singer, 37, tells ESPN.

While he’s loving the time with wife Jaclyn and their children, 3½-year-old daughter Milán Hayat and 8-week-old son Daniel Issam, the proud papa can’t help but miss his firstborn, Jagger, 11.

“If school hadn’t just started, they’d all be out here, they were out the whole tour,” he explains. “Jagger went back to start school, my daughter stayed and my baby stayed and of course my wife stays with me, thank goodness. We really try to make it a family affair.”

And although they are hundreds of miles apart, Stapp makes an effort to stay in close contact with Jagger — even giving his pre-teen advice on tackling middle school.

“I just remember having conversations a couple of days ago about where to get his locker, and the place for kids to hang out, so he was pretty nervous,” Stapp shares. “He’s just a well-rounded kid, he plays drums, plays guitar, he’s got his own little band … and he’s just a great kid.”

As for Milán, it seems as if she’s planning on following her father’s footsteps right into the music industry.

“She’s like that little puppy you get that just runs around your coffee table all day long until it falls asleep,” he laughs. “Milán is the one who is probably going to be the rock ‘n’ roller. She sings every song when I’m on stage, she mimics me on stage and acts like she’s singing into the microphone, copies me, and I’m like, ‘Oh, goodness.’”

The couple’s newest addition, however, provides a good balance to his big sister. According to Stapp, Daniel cries rarely — and makes his dad work for a smile!

“He has a very serious look on his face,” he explains. “When I start going, ‘Go Daniel, go Daniel, go D.I., go D.I.,’ then I start moving around and he cracks a smile at me, and it’s all over then. But he’s the most serious baby that I’ve ever seen.”

Whether his children pursue a career as a musician or decide to head down another path, Stapp hopes they will put their schooling first and foremost. “Academics, man, a college education,” he muses. “One thing that brings a smile to my face as a proud papa is when I catch my son reading books on his own in the house.”

That said, Jagger’s interest — and skill! — at baseball often leads Stapp to dream of the future.

“I tell ya, there’s nothing better than being out in that grass on a sunny day,” he says. “I’d like him to be a pro ballplayer. I’d like to be the dad sitting in the front row. That would be awesome.”

– Anya Leon

Currently out on tour, Creed frontman Scott Stapp is enjoying his downtime with his own personal fan club: his family!

“I’m fortunate my family can just stay together,” the singer, 37, tells ESPN.

While he’s loving the time with wife Jaclyn and their children, 3½-year-old daughter Milán Hayat and 8-week-old son Daniel Issam, the proud papa can’t help but miss his firstborn, Jagger, 11.

“If school hadn’t just started, they’d all be out here, they were out the whole tour,” he explains. “Jagger went back to start school, my daughter stayed and my baby stayed and of course my wife stays with me, thank goodness. We really try to make it a family affair.”

And although they are hundreds of miles apart, Stapp makes an effort to stay in close contact with Jagger — even giving his pre-teen advice on tackling middle school.

“I just remember having conversations a couple of days ago about where to get his locker, and the place for kids to hang out, so he was pretty nervous,” Stapp shares. “He’s just a well-rounded kid, he plays drums, plays guitar, he’s got his own little band … and he’s just a great kid.”

As for Milán, it seems as if she’s planning on following her father’s footsteps right into the music industry.

“She’s like that little puppy you get that just runs around your coffee table all day long until it falls asleep,” he laughs. “Milán is the one who is probably going to be the rock ‘n’ roller. She sings every song when I’m on stage, she mimics me on stage and acts like she’s singing into the microphone, copies me, and I’m like, ‘Oh, goodness.’”

The couple’s newest addition, however, provides a good balance to his big sister. According to Stapp, Daniel cries rarely — and makes his dad work for a smile!

“He has a very serious look on his face,” he explains. “When I start going, ‘Go Daniel, go Daniel, go D.I., go D.I.,’ then I start moving around and he cracks a smile at me, and it’s all over then. But he’s the most serious baby that I’ve ever seen.”

Whether his children pursue a career as a musician or decide to head down another path, Stapp hopes they will put their schooling first and foremost. “Academics, man, a college education,” he muses. “One thing that brings a smile to my face as a proud papa is when I catch my son reading books on his own in the house.”

That said, Jagger’s interest — and skill! — at baseball often leads Stapp to dream of the future.

“I tell ya, there’s nothing better than being out in that grass on a sunny day,” he says. “I’d like him to be a pro ballplayer. I’d like to be the dad sitting in the front row. That would be awesome.”

– Anya Leon

All hands on deck!

Chris Cornell holds on tight to daughter Toni, who turns 6 this month, and son Christopher Nicholas, 4½, at the Picnic in the Park premiere of TinkerBell and the Great Fairy Rescue, held last Saturday at La Cienega Park in Beverly Hills, Calif.

The kids are Cornell’s with wife Vicky Karayiannis; he is also dad to elder daughter Lillian Jean, 10, from a previous marriage.

The rocker, 46, recently headlined Lollapalooza with his reunited band, Soundgarden.

RELATED: Chris Cornell and His Models in the Making

Shopping for your eclectic mom-to-be friend has never been easier, thanks to Cute-ture.

Minimink booties? Check. Toucan beanbag? Check. Geisha girl bib? Check. No wonder Sarah Jessica Parker Jennifer Garner, Jennifer Lopez is a fan!

An online boutique featuring fresh, funky designer baby apparel and accessories, Cute-ture only sells products which are eco-conscious and environmentally-friendly. Now, just in time for fall, its introducing a brand-new line of knitwear and accessories that will keep your little one surrounded by warmth and style.

We’re loving the old school-meets-new school striped hats with dual pom-poms, the dresses loaded with feminine details like bows and pearls, and the polka-dot romper with wood buttons.

To shop the full collection, click here.

Shopping for your eclectic mom-to-be friend has never been easier, thanks to Cute-ture.

Minimink booties? Check. Toucan beanbag? Check. Geisha girl bib? Check. No wonder Sarah Jessica Parker Jennifer Garner, Jennifer Lopez is a fan!

An online boutique featuring fresh, funky designer baby apparel and accessories, Cute-ture only sells products which are eco-conscious and environmentally-friendly. Now, just in time for fall, its introducing a brand-new line of knitwear and accessories that will keep your little one surrounded by warmth and style.

We’re loving the old school-meets-new school striped hats with dual pom-poms, the dresses loaded with feminine details like bows and pearls, and the polka-dot romper with wood buttons.

To shop the full collection, click here.