Hey, Babydoll!

I have finally acquired this geometric babydoll dress by Dear Creatures that I've had my eye on since 2013.  It's now one of only two babydoll dresses in my wardrobe, (see my post of the other dress here) but I'm ever so glad to have it at last.  When it first hit stores, the reviews were very mixed, and because so many people seemed disappointed, I decided not to risk it.

A few years later found it on Posh for around $15 and that was so cheap, I figured that even if I hated it, it could be just an around-the-house-dress.  I decided to buy, but it never shipped.  That happens sometimes on Posh.  The seller promised as soon as she got home from her vacation that Friday she'd ship it.  Three weeks later.......I finally canceled the order.

And a few weeks ago I found it on ThredUp, still very inexpensive,  and decided to try again.  Now it's here and I love it so much.  It's just perfect for summer and not at all what I expected from the reviews.  I think the main reason it got a bad rap was because people don't seem to understand what a baby doll dress is and how it is supposed to fit.  So, I thought we'd spend a little time today on the history of the Babydoll dress.  

The first thing we need to establish is what exactly is a babydoll dress.  Well, in short, (pun intended!) it is a short, loose fitting dress with an empire waist or no waist at all.   This dress Dear Creatures is not quite an empire waist, but that's ok by me because I find them extremely unflattering on my shape in particular and the no-waist look?....I might as well wear a trash bag.

Babydoll dresses were originally designed by Sylvia Pedlar in 1942.  They were nightgowns and the shorter than average length was due to fabric shortages during WWII.   This style was also used in children's clothing for the very same reason but the style continued as mothers found it ever so much easier to change a dirty nappy with the short length than the full length baby clothes of previous generations.  And so, doll clothes began to reflect that as well. 

The style moved out of the bedroom and into the mainstream in the turbulent and rebellious 1960s when youths were casting aside all their restrictive undergarments, multiple layers, and opting for the short sleekness of Mod styles worn by models like Twiggy, which gained popularity first in Britain and then in the US.  But, eventually it gave way to the long flowy styles of the 1970s and for several decades was only found on actual baby dolls.

Thanks to brands like Dear Creatures, the baby doll dress has made a mild comeback and the Selkie Puff Babydoll dress has blown up the internet.  Although I like the general style of the Selkie Dress, the empire waist is so high and the length is so short that it is quite tricky to wear.

Not all styles work on every body type.  That's just a fact.  And while I think the models in these photos look really cute in this style, I know A.  It needs about four more inches added to the length, and B. Even then, I could never pull it off.  Which is why I prefer this less extreme version of the babydoll dress from Dear Creatures. 

Plus, unlike the Selkie Dress, this one keeps my bum covered on a breezy day and on one particular day I wore it with capri leggings and it still looked cute.  It also made a very easy, comfortable swim cover while I was at the beach.  I like the short (but not too short) length too and the easy slip-on airiness of this particular dress.  I went across the country with me on vacation and apart from my swimsuit, it was the thing I wore most on our trip.

So, if you've never tried a babydoll dress, or if you've tried one and found the fit baffling, and you happen upon one this summer--try it or try it again.  And, remember its roots.  It's meant to be a basic, minimalist, easy dress.  No fuss, no muss; the perfect summer style.

Shopping Info: geometric babydoll dress by Dear Creatures, flats by City Classified, bag from Shein

sources: https://www.anothermag.com/fashion-beauty/7954/the-political-history-of-the-babydoll-dress

https://sunbelzz.wordpress.com/2019/04/14/the-history-of-the-baby-doll-dress/