What does smocked mean?

[jane215]

I see baby clothes being referred to as "smocked construction" as if it has to do with quality. What does smocked mean? I googled it, and it seems to mean it is sewn with gathers/puckers. Is it a purely decorative thing? This outfit is smocked, but I don't see any gathers in it. Is smocked clothing supposed to be stronger and last longer or something?

 

[Jonathan]

Smocked refers to the gathers, it is a decorative way of creating shape in a straight piece of fabric, usually its done across the chest. If you don't see any gathers then its not smocked.

 

[The Vintage Vendeuse]

Hand-smocking, particularly with children's clothes, refers to embroidery-style stitches done on pleated fabric. Generally, the pleated area has some elasticity when the stitching is done. Hand-smocking is a time-consuming art. Smocking can also be done by machine but a keen eye can easily tell the difference
It can also refer to a method of decoratively gathering fabric using certain stitches.
Here is something I hand-smocked for my daughter: