Top to Toe: Practical Fashion

The practical properties of fabrics, layers of clothing and fastenings are important when looking at garments for daily wear now and in the past.

Many children’s clothes in the past were restrictive because they mimicked adult styles without due acknowledgement to the differing functional and practical needs of children.
 
Movement, comfort and room for growth have been important practical factors in children’s clothing. In the past, in-built tucks were made in garments such as dresses to enable them to be “let out “and therefore last longer. Newer fabrics which allow stretch such as jersey, Lycra and elastic and techniques such as smocking have perhaps been some of the most instrumental in practical children’s clothing development to provide ease of wear, and allow room for growth.

Some clothes were deliberately impractical. Wearing something luxurious that had a short lifespan could be a symbol of high social status or an indication it was a garment worn for special occasions or perhaps for indoor wear only.