Keeping up with the latest fashion trends and dressing your little girl in outfits that tick all the right boxes can be cumbersome for busy parents. This is specifically why hand-snitched smocked dresses ought to be a staple in your baby’s wardrobe. Comfortable, stylish, classy, suitable for every occasion, stretches to perfectly grow with the baby so it doesn’t make a dent in your pocket every time your child outgrows their clothes, smocked dresses are undoubtedly versatile and stand the test of the time. Happy parents, happy baby. An absolute win-win!

How did smocked pieces originate and enter children’s closets?

Prior to trendsetting children’s fashion, smocks were part of men’s wardrobes. It was first introduced in England to create flexible clothing for men that would allow them to work freely. Later, it was redesigned and adopted by women to create elegant garments. It was initially done using silk or cotton threads. The chest, cuffs, collars, and waist sections of the outfits were the most often smocked areas of clothing.

The first person to draw a young girl wearing a frock with a smoked bodice was a children’s book illustrator. Huge success followed the drawing’s quick replication by the renowned Liberty London store. Since then, smocks have never been seen outside of kids’ wardrobes.

So what is a smocked dress?

Smock embroidery is where fabric is taken and folded into an accordion fashion, resulting in pleats. Then, in order to secure the pleats, a string is obtained and stitched through them in various locations. The tops of these produced peaks of the pleats are then embellished by hand embroidering little figures like flowers or images of miniature animals, or other wonderful settings, using colored thread and a needle.

Smocked clothing includes a wide range of stitching styles and types. The labor-intensive process of making smocks calls for a lot of patience and meticulous hand motions. At Littlejoys we hand smock and hand embroider all of our dresses to provide an unmatched level of finesse and quality.

Are smocked dresses still in style?

Absolutely! Smocks prove to remain timeless and never out of fashion with the likes of Princess Charlotte, member of the British royal family and the only daughter of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. The princess would constantly be seen wearing traditional smocked dresses, mainly sporting a Peter Pan collar, a bow sash and short puffed sleeves. The dresses embrace a comfortable smocked bodice, which is as stretchy as it is adorable.

It’s time you awaken the princess within your little girl too, and keep her happy with our very own dresses crafted with utmost love and care to ensure comfort and elegance. At Littlejoys we hand smock and hand embroider all of our dresses embellishing a Peter Pan collar, smocked bodice with intricate detail and short puffed sleeves.

We strive to not only create an impact on children’s fashion but also uplift and generate tangible benefits for the local community in Sri Lanka through fair-trade sourcing. The garments in their entirety, are made in Sri Lanka, thereby providing long-term sustainable employment to highly-skilled artisans and seamstresses. Furthermore, a percentage of the proceeds for each and every purchase is dedicated to enrichening the welfare of our people living in Sri Lanka, supporting them in hard times and making sure their needs are met at all levels, including physical, mental and financial.

So spruce up your baby girl’s wardrobe with our timeless smocked pieces. Complete the look with a matching bow, shoes and socks, and allow your child to be her most adorable self!