The smock
dress goes way back in time when rural workers in early England used them as outer garments.
They weren’t intended to be fashionable originally, but were designed for comfort. No fashion
statement at the time!
As smock
dresses have become popular in most parts of the world for several seasons now, they are both
fashionable and comfy. Most women go for this look because they can hide a host of imperfections
including stomach bulges and chunky thighs. This type of dress is friendly to those of us who
may not have a supermodel figure.
The
smock dress (also referred to as ‘smocked dress’) is
versatile; you can go for the hippie look, the summery look, or you can wear smocked dresses for
formal evening affairs.
If these dresses were
usually made of heavy linen and wool before, now they are made of various materials from denim, to cotton,
corduroy, satin, silk, polyester, knitted and many others.
Having trouble finding the
right size of smocked dress? You can find lots of sizes in the stores including those for plus-sized women. You
can also choose the length fitting for you and your age.
If you are in your
twenties, you can be more daring with it. But for those in their forties, length of the smock dress is
preferably above the knees. As they are loose and concealing, do not overdo the volume or you can be mistaken
for a pregnant woman.
If you’re pregnant, well, a
smocked dress will make you look more fashionable with your baby bump. Going back to volume control and getting
rid of the extra bulk, you can achieve this by looking for a fluid fabric and using accessories.
You can accessorize with
big necklaces and using wide belts to cinch your waist. If you have big breasts, choose one such that the volume
will start below the bust line and not on the neckline.
If you’re also worried
about your legs, smock dresses can be worn over pants or leggings or tights. When you decide to go for this
look, make sure that your pants are of the skinny or narrow-legged type. You must use high heels with this too.
On the other hand, if you want to wear the dress without the pants or leggings, you can use chunky
heels.
Styles for smocked dresses
are across the board, you can find those with beads, bows, ruffles, floral or geometric designs. For women in
their 40s, the plain and simple ones are ideal. If you’re sporting the dress in an evening affair, you can use
gems or other metallic details to make you look more elegant.
The video above presents how to make a baby doll dress with a smocked top.
Balance is important when
you wear a smock dress. Although, smock
clothing is one of the easy-to-wear outfits, still you should consider not only how the dress
fits you but what you will be wearing with it.
Remember to choose a
flattering dress and not try to overdo concealing whatever imperfections you have with your figure, or they may
just do the opposite. With smocked dresses, you can experiment with your look and be both fashionable and comfy
in the process.