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Smocked Bishop Dress   


Smocked Childrens Clothing: A Brief History and Description

     Although nothing has been formally written down before the 19th century in reference to the history of smocked clothing, there is evidence of smocked clothing‘s popularity as early as the 12th century with most accounts tracing it back to origins in England. Because the early centuries were a world without elastic, smocking served as a way to make the neck and sleeves more flexible for active work and protection from the cold. This came to an end with the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. The fast paced machines made the loose, billowy fabric of the smocked clothing hazardous in the workplace and herein lay the demise of smocking’s practicality. Not to be forgotten, smocked clothing then made a turn to clothes to wear on a special occasion such as a holiday or church on Sundays. Like many other traditions, smocked clothing is a pastime that has been handed down from generation to generation slowly securing the immense popularity it now has in children’s apparel.  Although smocked clothing is still extremely popular on holidays such as Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, and 4th of July; it has also evolved back into the comfortable everyday wear that it began as.
   
     Today, smocked clothing comes in many different styles for both girls and boys. One of the most popular styles for girls is the bishop dress. The bishop dress evolved from the bishop neckline used in ancient nightgowns or undergarments into a comfortable, fashionable girls dress.  In a bishop dress, the smocking is generally around the neck which makes them extremely comfortable for girls of all sizes. Sizes generally run from 6month to 7 years. The Jon Jon is one of the most popular smocked clothing styles for boys. The Jon Jon, also known as a shortall or longall, resembles a pair of overalls with smocking generally across the chest. Jon Jons can be worn with a shirt underneath for a dressier look or shirtless for a more casual beach day or play day. Although boys and girls have separate styles such as the bishop dress and Jon Jon, they also share styles such as the bubble. Although the smocking on bubbles can differ in style from boy to girl, the generally making is the same. The top of a bubble for a girl generally resembles the top of a bishop dress, but instead of flowing out into a dress, it snaps or buttons with two leg holes. For a boy, the top of a bubble may have short sleeves or a collar with the same snaps or buttons at the leg holes. Bubbles are extremely popular with younger children and usually run from ages 3months to 24months.
   
     Because of the popularity of smocked clothing for both boys and girls, it has become a more expensive trend that many people are forced to save for special occasions or holidays despite the practicality and comfort of these styles. The founder of Shrimp and Grits Kids, Megan Hewitt, decided to change this. When Megan had her first child in 2005 and, like other moms, wanted to dress her child in these cute, comfortable outfits but could not justify paying the expensive prices. She decided to create a clothing line that would offer high-quality smocked clothing at an affordable price. The low price is not the only thing that makes Shrimp and Grits kids different. The adorable bishop dresses, jon jons, shortalls, longalls,  bubbles, short and pant sets, collared shirts, jumpers, and  bathing suits are designed based on her surroundings of Coastal Carolina. This aspect not only makes the smocked and appliqué outfits perfect for everyday wear, but adorable for family portraits, holidays, and beach trips. Shrimp and Grits kids offers clothes for babies, girls, boys, and matching wear for siblings or family. With sizes ranging from 3month to 8 years, it is extremely popular for entire families to wear matching smocks. Smocked clothing comes in many different fabrics and styles such as seersucker, light-weight cotton, sleeveless bishop dresses, jon jons, short sets, bathing suits,bubbles , and short-alls which are perfect for spring and summer and corduroy, over-alls, jumpers, pant sets, long sleeved bishop dresses, and jackets that are perfect for fall and winter.
  
     It is clear the smocked clothing has reigned in popularity for many centuries, but with Shrimp and Grits Kids, the style has been made affordable without losing quality. The boutique is offered online at www.shrimpandgritskids.com and at trunk shows all over the country.