Chapter 216
Chapter 216
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 216
Chapter Title: Brainstorming Children's Fashion
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Judging from my past life, the history of children's clothing is shorter than you might think.
To be precise, the history of children's clothes that pay fine attention to gender and age groups is quite short.
The concept of children's clothing exists, but it's basically just improving the fit to make it comfortable for kids to wear.
There are claims that they treated kids like little adults, but even if people in the past were raised somewhat ignorantly, they knew to raise children with a bit more care and special attention.
It was just that a lack of leeway led to makeshift solutions.
It's not for nothing that they say a person's generosity comes from a full wallet.
You might wonder why they'd skimp even on clothes when times were tight, but when you think about it, there are understandable reasons.
For starters, you don't know the baby's gender until right before birth.
So up to a certain age, they unified everything with dresses regardless of gender.
That way, you could dress the child no matter what, and it was easy to adjust the size.
That's why in old European portraits of children, boys and girls alike are wearing dresses.
Around 5 or 6 years old, they start distinguishing boys' and girls' clothes, but design-wise, there wasn't much difference from adult clothing.
This trend began to change around the 17th to 18th centuries.
It wasn't due to some grand reason; as religious influence weakened, people could indulge in more luxury and started experimenting.
Through these ongoing new attempts, children's clothing gained its own identity, with finer distinctions by gender and age, leading to more variety.
If I had to pick key features of children's clothing that emerged from this trend, it'd be casualness and functionality.
They simplify the silhouette and decorations, make the fit roomy for easy movement, and design for leg freedom.
Top it off with bright, cheerful colors, and it's done.
To explain the differences this creates, using girls as an example:
For activity, the dress hem sits higher than the knees, revealing stocking-clad legs.
Colors are often very vibrant.
The fit is loose, with no waistline or one high up at the chest, giving a somewhat innocent look.
And sometimes they add an apron to protect the dress from getting dirty during play.
The most iconic example is the dress Alice wears in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.
A knee-length, flower-bright puff-sleeve dress, a crisp white apron, and a cute hairband.
Even people unfamiliar with children's fashion instantly picture it when you say "Alice's outfit"—it's that iconic and trendy.
So for girls' children's clothing, anything following those rules should work.
Probably.
What about boys?
Unfortunately for boys, there wasn't a single "this is it!" standout.
Just the shift to pants around 2-3 years old was a massive revolution for boys' clothing...
If I had to pick, maybe suspender pants or downsized sailor suits for boys.
You might wonder why naval uniforms trended for kids, but it's because Edward VII's childhood portrait came out stunningly well, and noble ladies snapped them up like they were enchanted.
Considering this background, introducing Alice dresses and sailor suits here should be positively received.
So the popular, easy-to-accept outfits seem well-chosen.
"Hm..."
It felt a bit too safe, which was disappointing, but nothing else came to mind.
I had no desire to go adventuring in kid clothes, either.
A magical girl outfit did flash through my head for a moment.
Surprisingly, magical girl outfits are adult-friendly aside from the short skirts and abundance of ribbons.
Because their motif is dresses popular in the Victorian era.
Of course, I won't deny those ribbons are a serious barrier to entry.
I don't mind them as accessories, but I rarely add ribbons to dresses myself.
"Whatever, let's go with this..."
I decided further agonizing was pointless, set down my pen, and rolled up the paper.
This alone should last a few years... everyone should be satisfied.
_
The promised Friday.
The staff gathered around the central table to show their results, but their expressions—especially the tailors'—were somewhat grave.
"Hm..."
They sat down reluctantly, glancing furtively at their papers, faces full of doubt like "Is this right...?"
"So, did everyone think of something?"
"Hm... I gave it my best shot."
"I came up with ideas, but I'm not sure."
"No confidence here either."
As soon as I cautiously broached the topic, they groaned and clutched their papers, hesitating to unfold them.
The mood sank more than expected.
Normally, juniors should present confidently as a matter of courtesy, but they lacked that...
"Tch..."
I bit my lip lightly and scratched my head.
Guess I have no choice but to step up first.
"I'll go first."
I unrolled my paper on the table.
Elizabeth, being skeptical, watched impassively as I spread it out, but Herbert Young Lord and Panny Lady brightened slightly, fixing their eyes on it.
"Hm~ Cute, and the mobility looks decent."
"Adding a few pleats to the skirt would give it a flowery feel."
"Right, depending on how you tweak the silhouette and add decorations, it could go vibrant or more subdued."
"Kinda like a bright maid outfit."
"Probably the apron..."
An apron is a strange thing—draped over a dress, it makes anything feel like a maid outfit.
Even pairing it with hanbok would give off a cheerful maid vibe.
You could distinguish by the collar, but you can't block that subtle maid aura.
The only dress that might resist is a wedding dress.
"This is mine. What about everyone else?"
"Mine's similar to yours, Howard Young Lord, but without the apron."
After checking mine, Herbert Young Lord quickly unrolled his, taking his turn.
As he said, it was very similar to mine, with the differences being a slightly longer skirt and lower waistline on his.
"Not bad, but it suits a bit older than 5—maybe 7 or 8."
"That's what I thought while drawing it."
Nothing much else to say beyond it fitting a 10-year-old girl.
"Panny?"
So we moved right to Panny Lady's turn.
After seeing ours, she seemed to gain some confidence; her expression was relaxed even as her turn came.
"I couldn't come up with anything for dresses, so I tried designing a coat."
"A coat? Isn't there not much to tweak for girls' coats?"
No garment is harder to make feel childish than a coat.
Coats prioritize warmth, so they're bulky and thick for adults and kids alike—always similar no matter how you make them.
"I have strong memories of coats being super uncomfortable as a kid. Now I wear shawls or capes fine, but back then it was such a hassle."
"Uncomfortable, huh... So, any solutions?"
"I drew inspiration from men's coats."
Panny Lady unrolled her paper.
"Hm~"
Hers showed a coat that covered the upper body without sleeves like a cape, but closed with buttons like a coat, and fabric filling the sides between arm and torso.
In my past life, this was called an Inverness cape, right?
Originally an Inverness coat—a waterproof overcoat with a cape—but chopping off the sleeves turned it into a sleeveless coat with a cape.
No sleeves, cape covering shoulders, so it sometimes feels like a dress or a poncho.
But on a kid? Adorably cute.
No big difference from adult versions, yet kids make it irresistibly charming.
Hard to explain, but you'll get it seeing kids wear it.
Anyway, the key is it's cute.
"Too bad it's not winter."
Aside from the timing—not quite summer-ready—it was great personally.
"If you make the fabric light, wouldn't it work for summer too? Coats are needed even then."
"True, the design's solid, so it'll definitely see use someday."
"Good, I was worried you'd hate it."
It might be iffy now, but come fall, inquiries will pour in.
Adults might take interest too.
Not bad results for all the groaning.
They could've pulled it off fine without me.
So with high hopes, I turned to Elizabeth next to me.
"Don't expect much; mine's not much different from yours."
Elizabeth shrugged as if waiting for my gaze and unrolled her paper.
"Hm~"
One word for Elizabeth's design: Dorothy.
More precisely, like Dorothy's outfit from the movie.
Strictly speaking, Dorothy wore a white blouse with a checkered pinafore skirt, while Elizabeth's was a white dress with a checkered apron—but the vibe was similar.
"Styling the apron isn't bad."
"I brightened up a maid outfit, figuring you'd like it."
I chuckled and nodded.
"This should get good reactions from clients. Great work, everyone."
"Phew, relief."
"Whew..."
"Haa~"
They smiled contentedly at my praise and encouragement, slumping back in their chairs with relief.
Details can be adjusted with clients, but no way this flops.
"Heh~"
Now I can face clients confidently.
If reactions are good, time to advertise.