Smock Dress

Smock dresses are popular clothing for children, teenagers and women. The origin of smock dresses can be traced to the smock frocks of the early 18th century. In those days, the smock was an outer garment worn by rural workers in England and Wales. Smock frocks were characterised by the fullness across the back, breast and sleeves, folded into narrow un-pressed pleats that were adorned by surface embroidery in a honeycomb pattern. Traditionally, smock frocks were made from heavy linen or wool. Today, smock dresses are also made of materials like corduroy, denim, cotton, satin, silk and polyester, among others.

After the 1920s, the nostalgia over the U.K.’s rural past led to the emergence of a trend for women's and children's dresses and blouses based on smock frocks. Today, a wide variety of smock dresses is available, ranging from smock dresses with flower prints and retro boho hippy summer smock dresses, to smock dresses with bust buttons and those with balloon sleeves.

Vintage smock dresses are also available in a wide variety, including products like the 70s vintage style smock dress, 60s satin vintage retro tunic smock dress, vintage 1970s boho strapless smock dress, vintage 1970s boho floral strapless smock dress and the red flower print smock summer dress 60s vintage. Brands offering smock dresses include Top Shop, Zara, Miss Sixty, Coast, Debenhams and Dorothy Perkins, among others.