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The Curious Bag
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The baby doll dress is a classic style of short dress. It can give the wearer a childlike look---hence the name "baby doll."
Style
The baby doll dress has a high waist and is a short dress, usually coming down to the wearer's lower thighs. It can have short sleeves, small straps or no straps.
History
In the late 1950s, the high-waisted empire line dress became popular, says Pauline Weston Thomas on Fashion-Era.com. Beth Duncuff Charleston of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute says that Cristobal Balenciaga created the baby doll dress, a similar version, in 1957.
Appeal
The style became popular amongst teens of the late 1950s, says Weston Thomas, because it didn't make them look "grown up" like their mothers. Today, many teens and young women choose the style because it gives the wearer a playful, youthful look.
Variations
"Baby doll" is a name for a type of nightgown that closely resembles the dress, too. It's similar in length and style, but may be made of sheer fabric. It can be a style of lingerie as well.
Later Popularity
After losing popularity in the 1980s, the baby doll dress gained back its popularity in the 1990s. It comes in both formal and informal styles.
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