What Is the Origin of the Smock?

Modern smocks are loosefitting, protective garments worn over other clothes while working in messy situations. They are usually lightweight, cover most or all of the body from neck to knees and have long sleeves. These days artists, dentists and hairdressers can be seen wearing smocks, but where did smocks come from and how did they get their name?

Medieval Smocks

Smocks were first worn in the Middle Ages by European women. The smock was made of linen or wool. It was a full-cut design that was made to fit better by smocking. It was worn loose and unbelted around the home as an everyday garment, and layered under various types of laced bodices and skirts for going out in public.

What is Smocking?

Smocking is a type of embroidery that creates a honeycomb pattern by sewing loosely across a series of folds in the fabric. It is an attractive decoration that added flexibility or stretch to the fit, long before the invention of elastic. The embroidery can be the same color as the fabric or it can be worked in a contrasting color to provide a more decorative look.

The Design Evolves

One big advantage is that smocked garments allow for greater freedom of movement. This led to the use of smocking on garments for men and children as well as women. Smock-frocks (the name may be a play on Frock Coats) appeared in the 1700s as men's garments to be worn over clothes. Typically smock-frocks had the folded, embroidered smocking across the back, chest and upper sleeves. Starting in the early 18th century, shirts with smocking became popular for many types of rural workers including shepherds, farmers and wagon drivers.

The Artist Smock

Because artists often work with messy materials, they began to wear smocks in their studios to keep paint, solvents, clay, wood shavings and marble dust off their clothes. Smocks allowed them to move from the studio to their patrons' homes without much fuss. Artist smocks often have billowing sleeves and large pockets for temporarily holding tools. Salvador Dali was famously photographed wearing a smock and a beret -- an image that has become an iconic symbol of the "artist at work."

Other Smock Wearers

The scientist's lab coat and mechanic's coveralls are two modern-day descendants of the smock. Elementary school children are frequently given smocks with elastic cuffs to wear during art time to keep their school clothes neat and clean. While modern smocks are loosely fitted, they rarely have actual smocking any more. Traditionally smocked garments are still very popular for babies and small children, and pregnant women often find them quite comfortable.

The Name

The word "smock" is a modern spelling of an Old English word "smocc" a verb meaning to gather fabric into unpressed pleats by sewing in a honeycomb pattern. Eventually the word was used to refer to both the sewing technique and the garments it produced, and the spelling was changed to "smock."