Cuffs and Ruffles: The Return of Pinafores

"Little girls have been wearing pinafores for more than a hundred years. the graceful style is practical as well as pretty, and its popularity has not diminished over the years, nor is it likely to in the near future. " This quote was taken from a sewing book by Kitty Benton which was written in 1981. Sadly the pinafore is becoming a thing of the past which is the main reason I started my business Pinafores and Knickerbockers. When my daughter was small some 20 years ago it was very typical for her to be seen wearing a dress with a pinafore to church each Sunday but now it seems that little girls are trying so hard to dress like big girls that the classic dresses are disappearing.

I love the article written by Kitty Benton on pinafores that I wanted to share it on my blog.

" In the nineteenth century, most dresses for little girls were made with no-nonsense serges and twills meant to to take the wear and tear inflicted by active young bodies and to last long enough to be passed on to younger sisters. They were also meant to to keep those bodies warm in houses heated only by fireplaces. In those days, it was far more difficult to keep clothes clean than it is now, so dresses were usually made in dark colors that minimized soil and, incidentally, reflected the more limited color palette of the period.

Hence, the invention of the pinafore. Pinafore fabric was washable, light in weight, relatively inexpensive and easy to replace, and-almost always- white. In fact, the origin of the word and the garment comes from the early custom of pinning an apron on the front (afore) of a dress to prevent soil. As to color, the freshness of white, its compatibility with every color, and the becoming way it highlights a child's face make it the choice for most piafores even today. Then, too, a white pinafore immediately dresses up the simplest of frocks, especially if accented with a ruffle, some eyelet or lace, a bow or two, or even a few embroidered flowers."

Best of all a pinafore can be easily and quickly made in a number of traditional styles, as seen in the photos of pinafores that I have made. Whatever style, the "pinney" is sure to bring out the figure of any little girl and at the same time it protects her best dress.