In the past, families would honour the generations that came before by passing on special items of clothing like wedding dresses and christening gowns. However, somewhere along the way these traditions have begun to fall by the wayside and an increasing number of people simply buy a new outfit for each child to be christened or baptised in. Thankfully, there are still some people who like the idea of heirloom christening gowns and are trying to re-establish the tradition. If you are one of those people then you may be looking for some hints on how to choose a christening gown that is worthy of becoming a family heirloom
Look For Quality
The most important factor in choosing a christening gown that is going to be handed down through the generations is that it is a quality piece of clothing. One of the downfalls of many modern and mass produced outfits is that they are not built to last and are unlikely to survive past one or two babies. Instead, you need to look for quality garments that are properly designed and which have been hand finished. These are the christening gowns which will last for years as long as they are cared for appropriately. If you need an example of this type of garment for your reference then The Christian Baby store offers Cassiani christening gowns which are renowned for their quality as well as their style.
Seek Out a Timeless Classi
Another important thing to consider when choosing a christening gown that will become a new family tradition is the style. You need to pick out a timeless design that is still wearable 20 years from now when your grandchild is getting christened. No-one wants to dress their little one in a dated outfit for one of the most important days of their lives. This means that you need to by pass any passing trends and opt for a more classic style that will stand the test of time.
The best option is to choose a fairly simple design that does not have too much fussy detail. Traditional heirloom gowns should be unisex so that they can be worn by all of the children born into the family and not just the girls! If you opt for the traditional white gown in a fairly simple style then you cannot go wrong. If you feel that it is a little to plain then bear in mind that they can always be accessorized with new items such as shawls, cardigan and bonnets which will give each child their own take on the outfit.
However, it is worth remembering what the christening gown actually represents. This is not a fashion statement, but rather a symbol that the baby is pure and that his or her soul is free from sin.
Preserving Your Heirloom Gown For The Next Generation
Introducing an heirloom christening gown into your family is more than simply choosing an outfit that is high quality. You are also going to need to take steps to make sure that it is properly preserved for subsequent generations. The last thing you want is to pull it out in time for your grandchild to wear and discover that it has began to perish while in storage!
The first step is to have it professionally dry cleaned after the ceremony. If you do decide to wash it yourself then you must hand wash the garment in mild soap. Once the gown is clean and dry it needs to be stuffed with acid free tissue. You will need to take care to place tissue in any pleats and in between the different layers of fabric. Once you are happy that you have done this, the garment should be placed inside a muslin bag. It needs to be able to breath so plastic garment bags are not appropriate. It can then be placed into a cardboard box for storage, but do not be tempted to seal the box. It is also worth noting that metal items such as bracelets should not be in the box as these may taint the fabric. If you follow these steps then when the time comes it should simply be a case of unpacking the gown and letting it air for a few days.
