DO IT FOR THE KIDS

Four-year-old Avery Lovell is discovering what it means to be in her element. Clad in a soccer jersey and sporting pigtail French braids, she sits in a room that kids her age usually only see in story time books. Pink tiaras are stenciled on the walls, princess costumes adorn antique curio cabinets, dainty tea cups hang from a sparkling chandelier and frosting swirls smother dozens of miniature cupcakes on the table in front of her.

Just before Lovell sinks her teeth into one of them, she proclaims to no one in particular that pink is her favorite color, as if it just dawned on her that moment. After taking a minute to consume both the cupcake and her fairy-tale surroundings, the tot turns to her mother and melts the entire room. "I love you, Mommy," she says in a voice as tiny as the confection she's now nibbling.

Sudden declarations of love occur just as frequently as temper tantrums at Pattycakes boutique in Henderson. But, it's to be expected at a store that's only missing unicorns and ponies. The high end clothing, toy and tea party boutique caters to children as young as premie babies all the way up to the pre-teens.

Today, on a June Saturday that's uncharacteristically below 90 degrees, owner Patty Zimmer is throwing a party. Just when her target consumer thought the store couldn't get any better, she's added face-painting clowns, frilly fashion shows and a storytelling Alice in Wonderland to the equation. It's all in celebration of Pattycakes' one-year anniversary.

Zimmer worked in high-end children's retail in Las Vegas for 20 years and opened her dream store a few years after retiring. Opening what clearly falls outside the lines of a necessity store during an economic recession wasn't part of the plan. She credits the merchandise for pulling the customers in: "I feel like the toddler brings the mommy a lot of times."

Some of the more in-demand lines she carries include Hannah Banana and Sara Sara, both of which take cues from Mom's closet. A ruffle-trimmed size 12 Hannah Banana cheetah print dress runs $98 and for the tween's baby sister, a Marina West cherry bikini runs $28. A leather overnight bag boasting the message "my stuff" has an $88 price tag, and message tees for toddler boys cost $32.

According to Kay Aguero, whose daughter strutted the runway during the Pattycakes fashion show, she's not sure who the store caters to more. "It's probably more me than her," she says. "That's my personality. I want her to look cute, but different."

Corrine Christian, whose accessory line C.C. Baby Inc. is sold at the store, agrees. "Unfortunately, a lot of it is superficial and it sounds bad, but our kids are like our accessories," she says. "Moms get a sense of style fulfillment when we have something no one else has. As long as we can afford it and support the local economy, we might as well have fun with it."

Originality reigns supreme with most high-end children's clothing shoppers. Just like their own wardrobes, these mothers want the best duds for their kids. It explains why Prada and Coach handbags hang from the arms of several mothers at Pattycakes today and why no bow is too big and no skirt is too fluffy for their daughters. Some might see it as instilling one-dimensional values, but Zimmer insists it's merely another gesture of affection.

"Your kids are only young once," she says. "It's important to sometimes show them how special they are."

Zimmer further explains that the past 10 years have seen a huge push in kids' parties, which is where her tea parties come in. Covering everything from sending out the personalized invitations to helping the host mother pack up her car when it's over, Pattycakes offers clients a fuss-free birthday party. Tea parties range from $10 per guest for Tuesday Tea to the Diamond Tea Party for 12 that includes princess makeovers, individual photos, etiquette lessons and parting gifts for $495.

Why tea parties? Not only do they market the boutique, but they also serve a personal interest for Zimmer, who says she loves being surrounded by the "girliest of girly things." In addition to showing her guests how to walk and wave like princesses during tea time, she also incorporates some of her own advice.

"I teach the little girls to know one thing," says Zimmer. "If it doesn't sparkle, it doesn't matter."

Pattycakes is located in Henderson at 9480 S. Eastern Ave., Suite 150, 492-0854.