The Ultimate Southern Baby Clothes Guide - How To Style to Perfection!

If you grew up in the American South, you know that there possess special memories and feelings that no one else in the country can understand. But even if you’re not a native Southerner, you may appreciate the aesthetics and lifestyle of the South. You may even want to pass this appreciation on to your children!

Fortunately, it has never been easier to enjoy the beauty and timeless qualities of Southern clothing. In fact, some of the most popular “vintage” baby clothing styles come from traditions that began more than a century ago in the American South and continue to this very day. But if you’re unfamiliar with Southern baby clothing or you simply want to find out as much as you can before you start shopping, you probably have a few questions.

For instance, how does Southern baby clothing differ for boys and girls? What processes are used to make Southern clothing for children? Finally, where can you find high-quality baby clothing that is oozing with Southern charm?

In today’s guide, we will answer all of these questions and more, but first, let’s examine exactly what we mean when we say “Southern baby clothes.”

What Is Southern Style Baby Clothing?

As you probably guessed, Southern-style baby clothing uses the traditional creative processes and aesthetics popularized in the American South during the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries. These can vary widely, but they often feature designs that have remained popular for more than a hundred years. As a result, Southern baby clothing often features intricate techniques that you simply won’t see in mass-produced baby clothing, or even most handmade clothing based on designs from other parts of the United States.

Some of the most common characteristics of Southern baby clothes include:

• Hand-Stitching - This practice refers to the practice of sewing together garments by hand, something that was extremely common in the pre-war South. Not only does this help make Southern baby clothing look more distinguished, but it also ensures that each and every item is completely unique from any other piece of clothing!
• Tucking - Tucking is the art of making small folds in fabric and then stitching those folds (or pleats) in place. This practice can add a sense of texture to baby clothing, and it is particularly common in dresses and day gowns. Though tucking did not originate in the South, it is extremely common in traditional Southern baby attire.
• Fagotting - Fagotting takes two parallel fabric edges and stitches them together, leaving small, decorative gaps between each piece. This is a common feature of Southern baby clothing that helps create a lacy, fluttery aesthetic. It can be part of designs for both boys' and girls’ clothing.
• French Seams - First developed in France (obviously), French seams are a technique that creates enclosed seams, without any messy edges showing on the inside or outside of the garment. Even though it originated across the Atlantic, French seams became a popular way for Southern “elites” to make their children’s clothing look even more polished and well-kept.
• Smocking - Smocking relies on the “gathering” of fabric into decorative patterns by way of hand-stitched embroidery. Smocked designs are commonly seen on Southern-style bubble dresses, bishop dresses, and day gowns. Like tucking, smocking helps add a textured look to garments. Plus, it can help give sleeves or necklines greater elasticity (a huge benefit when you’ve got a fast-growing baby).
• Pintucking - Pintucking is a practice that creates parallel folds in the fabric, held together with tight stitches. What’s the difference between tucking and pintucking, you might ask? Pintucks are simply narrower versions of standard tucks. Pintucks are a great option for Southern-style bonnets and dresses.
• Embellishments - While embellishments may be a catch-all term for anything “fancy” on a garment, it is also a great way to describe the many beautiful additions that have come to be associated with Southern baby clothing. From lace trim to ribbon accents, there is no shortage of beautiful embellishments that can be added to vintage baby clothes in the South!

Southern Baby Boy Clothes

Now that you know a little more about what truly differentiates Southern baby clothes from everything else on the market, it’s time to look at some beautiful examples! First up, let’s check out some of the adorable Southern Southern clothes for the baby boys in your family:

Longalls & Shortalls

Overalls are more closely associated with more modern styles of Southern dress, but longalls and shortalls have been a staple of Southern-style baby boy clothes for generations! As the names imply, longalls are essentially long-sleeved rompers, while shortalls (or the Jon Jons variation) are generally cut off at the knee. Either way, these garments offer great ways to dress your little boy up in semi-casual Southern attire!

Creepers

Creepers are great options for Southern babies in need of a quick diaper change! These garments are a variation of the traditional romper that is specifically designed for younger babies who may be more prone to accidents. In any case, Southern-style creepers often have some of the best features and embellishments, like smocking and delicate embroidery!

Take-Me-Home Gowns

While take-me-home gowns can work for girls or boys, a true blue take-me-home gown is a great choice for any baby boy born in the South! These garments ensure that your baby looks perfect when they first arrive home from the hospital. And what better way to celebrate the occasion than a touch of old-school Southern flair?

Southern Baby Girl Clothes

Some of the most inspiring clothing designs to come out of the South were specifically made for girls. In the sections below, we’ll cover a few of the most popular Southern-style baby girl clothes:

Bullion Dresses

Southern bullion dresses often feature tons of beautiful embellishments, like lace trim and floral embroidery. And if you really want your baby girl to look like a Southern lady, you can’t go wrong with a pink bullion dress and matching shoes!

Bubble Dresses

A Bubble dress (or “bubble suit” for boys) is a type of loose-fitting garment that is gathered in the middle. This makes the garment very comfortable for your baby girl to wear. Southern-style bubbles are also a great look with a matching bonnet!

Bishop Dresses

Bishop dresses are a classic of Southern baby girl attire! These dresses often feature smocking or embroidery around the neckline and sleeves. With a bishop dress, your Southern girl will look perfect for a special occasion!

The Feltman Brothers Difference

At Feltman Brothers, we don’t just design ordinary children’s clothing. Every garment or accessory we create is made with expert craftsmanship, utilizing many practices that have been around for centuries. Our Southern-style garments hearken back to simpler times, when families dressed to the nines on special occasions. Everyone, down to the little boys and girls, always tried to look their best!

So, if you’re looking for quality and traditional styles of the South, you can’t go wrong with a garment from Feltman Brothers. We put love and beauty into every piece we make, and this means that each dress, romper, creeper, bonnet, or other piece is 100% unique. That is the Feltman Brothers guarantee!

Do you want to find high-quality Southern baby clothes? If so, be sure to check out the beautiful items available at Feltman Brothers today!