French Smocking and Embroidery


Figure 1.--This advertisement for embroidery patterns appeared in a French magazine during Febryary 1954. It reads, "Petites broderies simples comme bonjour. Faciles à broder rapidemente exécutés, ces gentils motífs seront l'ornement des tabliers et des services à déjeunez de ves jeunes enfants".

Rompers are on of the garments on which both smocking and are embridery are used for trim or decoration. The other garments are blouses, smocks, and dresses. Emroidery and or smocking can be used on both one piece rompers and the blouses worn with romper botyom bottonms, such as sduspender rompers and button-on rompers. Somocking and emroidery can be used in combination or separetely. The smocking is generally used on the upper front of the garment. Emroidery can be used in many different places.

Garments

Rompers are one of the garments on which both smocking and are embridery are used for trim or decoration. The other garments are blouses, smocks, and dresses. Emroidery and or smocking can be used on both one piece rompers and the blouses worn with romper bottoms, such as suspender rompers and button-on rompers. Smocking and emroidery can be be used in combination or separetely. The smocking is generally used on the upper front of the garment. Commonly the blouses were white, but often the rompers and smocks were colored or were patterns like gingham (vichy).

Smocking

Smocking is primarily used on blouses, smocks, dresses and rompers. Smocking can be used in combination with smocking or by itself. It is mostly used on the upper front chest ares. Less common is the back of the garment. It is derived from the bunching of material on the front of early smocks, hence the name smocking. The French word "smock" is used quite differently than the English word. "Smock" in French means "smocking" in English.

Embroidery

Emroidery is primarily used on blouses, smocks, dresses and rompers, but can be used on other garments as well. Ebroidery can be used in combination with smocking or by itself. The embroidered work can be stylistic or actual images. It can be used in many different places on these garments. One of the principal areas is the upper front chest ares. Less common is the back of the garment. Collar, cuff, and hem are also areas that may have embroiderd work. Sailor suits once commonly had enbroidered dickies. We have also noted muted embroidered work on kilt suits. The French term for embroidery is "broderie". emboidery.

Individual Experiences

Jean Philippe Guyon






HBC





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Created: October 15, 2001
Last updated: December 2, 2003