Baby Wore White: robes for special occasions, 1800-1910

• by Heather Toomer
• 168 pages
• 4 patterns
• Over 250 colour and black and white illustrations
• Paperback
• 8¼in x 8¼in (21cm x 21cm)

This fully illustrated book reviews the history of christening and other decorative baby robes throughout the 19th century and the early 20th century. Patterns are provided for four different styles to enable home dressmakers and seamstresses to make accurate reproductions.

This book will be of interest to collectors, anyone wishing to date a family heirloom, embroiderers wanting inspiration for new designs, dressmakers, costume designers and the social historian.

The first section uses dated examples and contemporary illustrations to show when different styles of baby clothes were in vogue and compares and contrasts them with adult fashions. The second section celebrates the exquisite workmanship in many of these robes with numerous photographs of nearly forty garments. Tips are given on washing and conservation. A list of dated garments in public collections and a glossary are also included.

Heather Toomer is a freelance lecturer, author and consultant on antique lace and whitework embroideries, being particularly concerned with their identification, their use in costume and the history of their craft industries. Heather has worked with several museums over her 45 year career, advising and assisting with collections and displays, including a review of the hand-made lace collection in the Nottingham Museum. This review helped the lace collection as a whole, including its collection of machine laces, designated as a collection of national importance.