Day Gowns: More Than a Photo
It’s 1993. A beautiful mom to be, Collette, delivers her first baby and introduces her to the family.
“It’s a girl!”
She carefully dresses her newborn in a white gown trimmed with delicate lace, hand sewn by her mother-in-law. Tiny embroidery runs down the front panel. Her baby’s little hands slip through the sleeves, tied gently with white ribbons and French lace. She pauses. Time stands still.
Photos are taken and tucked into a floral photo album. They are looked at for years and eventually passed down to her daughter. That daughter grows up studying those photographs, never knowing there is more to them than what meets the eye.
One day, 25 years later, she opens a very special box.
Inside rests the very gown from those photos. The garment that once wrapped her newborn skin as her mother, very tired-eyed and full-hearted, dressed her baby girl with love. Thirty years later, that brown-eyed baby girl wraps her own daughter, Libby in the same gown. Now, her daughter doesn’t just have photos of herself in the dress, but photos of her mother wearing it, too.
She grows up seeing these images, unaware that there is still more than the photographs… One day, she too will open a very special box.
The tradition and significance of these moments are what fuel our work. We call them #ThisWasMine moments. They matter. They carry the keys to a mother’s heart for generations and generations.
Fast forward to today. I’m the one holding the photos and the day gown. I never knew just how much these moments would mean to me.
Day gowns have always been something I pictured my babies wearing for coming home from the hospital, newborn photos, and all the moments in between. My grandmother made my oldest, Bates’, day gown in white pima batiste with hints of blue. I will never forget dressing him in it at the hospital as snow fell outside, blanketing downtown Nashville. I layered a long-sleeve onesie and blanket underneath, determined that he would wear the precious heirloom Day Gown his great-grandmother made for him, even in the freezing cold.
Years later, we found out we were having a girl. I knew she would wear the gown that once belonged to me home from the hospital. As I prepared her nursery, I pulled it from its special box, carefully cleaned and ironed it, unaware of how deeply those moments would affect me. That was when I knew I wanted to create these moments for other families, too. And in the Lord’s perfect timing, I met our seamstress, Angela (a sweet story for another day). We are so blessed to have her on our team!
I did a little researching the history of the day gown:
The baby day gown is a traditional infant garment with roots in both practicality and symbolism. Its history reflects changing ideas about infancy, hygiene, fashion, and childhood, dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries. Early baby gowns evolved from long swaddling clothes used throughout Europe. Infants were dressed in robe-like garments that provided warmth and allowed for easier diapering. The length also reflected belief systems of the time. Long garments symbolized innocence and protection and were thought to help babies grow straight and strong.
The day gown reflects a time when infancy was viewed as a distinct, protected stage of life. It bridges fashion, domestic craft, and emotional heritage and continues to be valued for its connection to tradition, craftsmanship, and memory.
The Coming Home Tradition.
In many Southern families, the baby day gown became the “coming home” outfit. Newborns were dressed in long white gowns to leave the hospital or be presented to family and church. This tradition continues today and is deeply associated with Southern heritage, where multiple generations often wear the same gown. Family day gowns are carefully stored, lovingly mended, and thoughtfully documented.
Libby Priere Heirloom Day Gowns are made with love, care, and intention by our talented heirloom seamstress, Angela. Our gowns are offered in both pima and imperial batiste, crafted to be worn and cherished for generations. We currently offer eight unique gown styles, each designed to speak to different families and traditions. Our gowns are available in newborn and infant sizes, with infant sizing fitting up to six months.
We love pairing our gowns with a classic T-bonnet and offer several coordinating options to complement our gowns. Each gown can be found in our Heirloom Shop under the Baby category. We have shared photos of each gown below, showcasing the thoughtful details and craftsmanship poured into every piece.
We are deeply thankful to be trusted with your most precious memories.
Our hope and prayer is that Libby Priere Day Gowns lovingly become more than a photo for your families too.
#ThisWasMine
XX
-Taylor
Taylor, holding her daughter, Libby in the Day Gown that she wore home from the hospital in 1993.
