Traditional Details for Winter Days

The smell of fresh linen and crisp cotton greets you before you’ve even reached the collar cupboard. The doors pull open and sunlight cascades across stacks of soft fabric, cut into all sorts of shapes and piled neatly, waiting to find new homes on almost-finished outfits.

The design for large, statement collars pops up throughout history, from the dramatic ruffs of the Elizabethan era to the popular sailor and shawl collars of the 1950s. And today, they serve a sense of tradition in so many pretty ways, often trimmed with lace or subtle piping, or decorated with hand-applied accents, making them perfect for layering under a chunky knit or pairing with a velvet pinafore dress. Family-run French brand Kidiwi loves these traditional details just as much as we do, and its winter collection showcases some of the most striking collars we’ve seen this season, like this beautiful olive green dress with hand-embroidered pink flowers and ruffles on the collar.

The steady rhythm of needles gathering fabric into tiny, intricate and perfect pleats fills the sewing room. On the table, brightly coloured bobbins catch your eye like precious gemstones while carefully folded piles of printed fabrics sit neatly, ready to be smocked.

Did you know that the technique of hand smocking began as a functional way to give garments stretch? This clever technique later evolved into a decorative tradition, keeping the craft very much alive even with the invention of elastane. And it’s a process that we hold very close to our hearts here at Childrensalon. Every pleat and tiny stitch signals craftsmanship and care, whether it’s on bodices of dresses and buster suits or the tiniest of babygrows, and you’ll often see it with delicate embroidery or heirloom motifs, like birds, sailboats or flowers, as if straight from the pages of a nursery rhyme. This winter, look to designers like Patachou and Pretty Originals for traditional hand-smocked accents, as well as our signature Beatrice & George collection, whose story is inspired by our own Sybil and her passion for the time-honoured craft.

You’re greeted by the soft, comforting scent of wool. Bundles of the softest yarn rest beside smooth wooden needles; a scattering of tape measures and a forgotten teacup hint at quiet moments of making and calm creativity.

Nothing says cosy winter days quite like throwing on a cosy knitted sweater. And perhaps the first traditional detail that comes to mind in the world of wool is the cable knit. Originally created as workwear for the fishermen on the Aran Islands, the classic cable design that we know and love — decorative stitches, like braids, honeycombs and diamonds — symbolised strength and protection whilst out at sea. Similarly, Fair Isle knitting, with its repeating bands of geometric patterns and colour, hail from the remote Scottish island of the same name. You’ll find inspiration from both of these heritage knit patterns across our winter collections, from Laranjihna’s stylish navy sweater with its cosy ribbed cuffs and hem to festive dresses from Hatley and Lapin House.

Rows of jars sit neatly side by side, each one filled to the brim with tiny treasures just waiting to be matched with their owner. Buttons, big and small, in shimmering mother-of-pearl and smooth wood, colourful rolls of grosgrain ribbon tucked snugly among trims of lace and ric-rac, each with their own story to tell.

We’ll let you in on a secret, buttons and bows are so much more than just fastenings. They were often treated like tiny heirlooms themselves, saved, swapped, and stitched again like tokens of care. In our collection, you’ll see rows of neat buttons down the back of a christening gown or a single clasp on a wool cardigan, and delicate bows decorating a neckline or skirt waistband, all small details that transform pieces and give them a little extra care and attention. Look a little closer and you’ll wander upon mother-of-pearl buttons on styles from Ancar and Sarah Louise, charming bows on dresses and shorties from the likes of Phi Clothing and Miranda, and who could resist the smoothness of a wooden button, as seen on this sweet traditional checked dress from Foque.