Zephyr Hill

A Family Blog

Dressing Your Child for a Special Occasion: 4 Helpful Tips

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Is there an outfit or baby gown that has been passed down in your family? Little treasures like that are so meaningful, especially when you think of all the little babies before yours that enjoyed them. If your child needs a special occasion outfit, here are four tips to help you make a decision.

  • Look for quality of construction that will stand the test of time. You want this to be a piece you can pass on to your children.
  • Look for classic styles and colors. While orange may be trending this season, it may be something you’re not going to be happy with later. You want this to be an outfit that can be pulled out for future portraits, baptisms, parties, etc. Babyish colors like soft white, blue and pink are almost always a good bet, and they photograph well. Plus, a lighter color won’t “fight” for attention and steal the show from your baby’s cute face.
  • Consider your child’s age. If the star of the show is an active two-year-old, a romper or bubble suit is more practical. For girls who are standing or walking or running, make sure the dress is not too long. If you’re photographing a newborn, on the other hand, a longer gown always looks stunning, no matter what the gender.
  • Consider the setting. If this is an outdoor event or photo shoot, your child might need a bonnet or sweater or socks during cooler weather. Think about how the outfit will look in a picture, and choose the style accordingly. For close-ups, understated details like smocking, pin-tucks and embroidery are lovely to look out, yet they won’t distract from the subject.

Feltman Brothers makes heirloom-quality clothing just like I’ve described for newborns up to size 4. Their extensive selection of gowns, dresses, rompers, hats, sweaters and bonnets makes it easy to find just the perfect outfit to suit your little one’s style and personality. The classic colors and styles are timeless and worthy of being passed down and loved over and over again.

This summer they added the “Leaf Bow Collection” and sent a little dress for us to try out on Ingrid in exchange for an honest review. The Leaf Bow dress is white with delicate embroidery and puffed sleeves. It retails for $61.85 and is available in sizes newborn to 4T.

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Our Leafbow dress is a 65% poly/35% cotton easy-care blend that always looks crisp and fresh. It’s hand-embroidered and made in the Philippines. Ingrid is 12 months old, and small for her age. I chose the 12 month size because I wanted to make sure it would fit just right and not get in the way of her standing and taking her first steps. I would suggest going a size up if your child is above average in size.

The 12-month Leafbow dress is 17.5 inches long with a neckline diameter of 4.5.

The pure white of this sweet dress, with the delicate pastel embroidery and tiny little pintucks look lovely on little blonde-haired Ingrid. Then again, a white gown or suit is really a classic look on any child. You just can’t go wrong with something this exquisite.

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We have several other outfits from Feltman Brothers and can attest to the outstanding quality and photo-worthy appeal. They are perfect for portraits, church, christenings, birthdays and other special occasions.

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It’s easy to shop at Feltman Brothers online and you always get free shipping on orders of $95 (no code needed).

Do you love heirloom baby clothing, too? Tell me about your favorite gown or outfit!

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Feltman Brothers Heirloom Clothing

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Babies and young children are a joy to behold; there’s something so universally appealing about their wonderful expressions, tiny little faces and unpredictable, comical ways. We parents especially treasure photos from childhood that capture those qualities. And nearly every family has some special dress or outfit that was perfectly suited to the occasion. Perhaps it’s something that’s even been passed down from generation to generation.

Feltman Brothers has been generating this kind of magic for quite some time – almost 100 years, in fact! At it’s founding in 1916, Americans were puttering around in the famous Model T while “Edwardian” ladies swept their hair up high and wore skirts almost to their shoes. But just like then, we still love to dress up our little ones for a special occasion, or maybe just to capture them in a keepsake photo. Fine sewing sometimes seems to be a vanishing art, so I’m really glad that companies like Feltman Brothers are still providing heirloom-quality clothing to families.

Feltman Brothers sent us two beautiful spring outfits for Erik and Susanna in exchange for an honest review: the Teddy Bear Bobby Suit in blue (retail $53.85) and the Rose Garden Smocked Bubble Suit (also in blue, retail $47.99):

It took me a really long time to choose something for my two toddlers because the selection at Feltman Brothers is extensive and everything is either breathtakingly beautiful or just plain adorable (some are both!). In the end, I thought the two pale blue spring outfits would suit them both perfectly.

They are quite a pair!

The outfits we received are meticulously crafted. Not a stitch out of place. The fine fabrics and delicate details are just what I would expect from such a trusted name. You can be sure that after Spring and Summer have come and gone, these little suits will be carefully packed away for the next Sweden baby.

The tiny pintucks and embroidery on Erik’s romper are perfect, and the button-on style is one of my absolute favorites:

Department stores and big box stores don’t sell clothing of this quality, and it often takes some looking (and driving) to find a high end boutique shop. Luckily, you can easily shop with Feltman Brothers online and receive free shipping on all orders over $95.

I do want to mention that if your baby is average or bigger, then you might go up a size when purchasing. Susanna and Erik are both small/short for their ages, and the sizes I picked corresponded exactly to their ages and the outfits “just” fit – with no room to spare.

Feltman Brothers also sells christening gowns! Baptism is a crucial, once-in-a-lifetime event, so it’s no wonder that parents have traditionally dressed their babies in the very best for the momentous day. Feltman Brothers has beautiful styles for both boys and girls, plus accessories like bibs, blankets and diaper covers.

Do you see something you like at Feltman Brothers? Is there an outfit or gown that would suit your child perfectly?

After you take a few minutes to browse around, don’t forget that Feltman Brothers is having a giveaway this month for a clothing package worth $150, and it ends in just 3 days! You can enter here.