Traditionally, the mainstays of a Soviet child's wardrobe were, first, the somber school uniform, and, second, faded and mismatched hand-me-downs.


But now, with uniforms -- the great equalizer -- discarded, and more places to shop for children's wear, parents whose tastes and pocketbooks have changed with the times can deck their kids out in style.


Mir Chudes, Triumfalnaya Ploshchad 1, telephone: 251-5500.


Of a number of exclusive children's clothing shops that have opened around the city, Mir Chudes, or Wonderland, is a notably colorful addition to the kidwear scene. With its red linoleum floors -- which double as a good surface for test-driving toys like a $1,265 two-seater Jeep when junior gets bored -- Mir Chudes is a Western-style wonderland of imported playthings and clothes.


The store primarily stocks clothes by Landmann, a top quality German line of children's sportswear, for kids up to the age of 12. Quilted snowsuits burst forth in sea green and fancy purple and cost under $100. Lined parkas in different colors start at $76, and a multi-patterned duffel jacket costs $167.


Fashion plates from the ages of 5 to 12 will find brown velvet jodhpurs for $92, faux brocade vests for $57 and floral print shirts for $50. Jeans come in all sizes and a rainbow of colors, even cornflower blue with an elephant patch. They range from $20 to $46, depending on the size.


Mechanic's jackets come in an extraordinary variety of styles in denim and leather and range between $60 and $80. Mod bathing suits are also abundant, including, for example, a pink one-piece suit with plastic dangling dolphins at $27.


Cotton underwear for children up to 12 years old is also available. Shoes start at the extraordinarily low price of $6 and go up to $66 for a pair of sturdy Italian-made winter boots.


Boys and Girls, Sadko Arcade, telephone: 253-9588.


This pricey, chic children's boutique is the place to stock up on Cacharel's latest releases.


The entrance is graced by an enormous $3,000 plush brown bear and a $1,500 miniature Mercedes dump truck. The wearable goodies include coats starting at slightly above $200. A zipper-laden leather bomber jacket hovers above the $400 mark.


Jeans in red, brown and green weigh in at $59, wide-wale corduroys in rich colors start at $65. An emerald green velvet dress costs $179, and sweaters range between $89 and $98. Boots run between $50 and $69.


Grant, Bosco de Ciliegi, Petrovsky Passazh, no telephone.


Grant is a tried-and-true supplier of basic but uncontestably fashionable Italian children's clothes, with sizes up to age 12. Corduroys in blue or beige cost $39, as does a pair of grey flannel shorts. Footwear, ranging from fur-lined winter hiking boots to caramel-colored combat boots, starts at $4. This is the best place for colorful woollen sweaters, for boys and girls, at $45 a pop.


Bosco de Ciliegi targets newborns and stocks accessories for infants, from rattles to elaborate and old-fashioned wicker cribs, the latter costing up to $539. They carry the French line Absorba.


Bambino, Ulitsa Baltchug 7/9, telephone: 233-1717.


High prices match the high fashion in this store, where the clothes for sale are primarily Italian. Tan jeans, for example, start at $75. Bambino is the only place that the New Russian kid can find terry-cloth bathrobes to fit -- at just under $100.


Karstadt Kids, GUM, no telephone.


One of the largest children's stores in the city, Karstadt excels in the basics: Jeans run between 24 and 48 Deutsche marks ($15.50 to $31.00), sweatshirts in all styles and patterns range between 21 and 32 marks.


Schneiders, Pervaya Tverskaya-Yamskaya 28, telephone: 251-1328.


The classics are to be found here: a traditional argyle cardigan for young boys, a princess-line coat, patent leather party shoes. Interesting comic character bookbags are also featured, at $65.


Babycare, Valdai Center, Novy Arbat 11, telephone: 291-1083.


This upscale supplier of baby's clothing, infant's accessories and maternity sportswear specializes in sizes up to 2 1/2 years.


Stockmann, Dolgoruvskaya Ulitsa 2, telephone: 258-2212.0


The more practical needs of any child of any age will be served at this Moscow anchor store. Stockmann carries a full range of accessories, undergarments, basic apparel and outdoor gear at reasonable prices.