Introduction: A Dress, A Portrait, A Legacy
“Can I have one too?”
Those six little words from my daughter Mary Grace, spoken as I hung her baby sister’s heirloom portrait on the staircase, sparked something deep in me. It reminded me of my own childhood, when my mother commissioned a hand-smocked velvet dress and arranged a formal portrait of me at Reynolda Gardens. That portrait still hangs in her home today, and as a child, I remember feeling seen, celebrated, and deeply loved.
Now, as a mother of four daughters, I find myself carrying forward that same tradition. I wanted to give each of our girls a portrait that preserves the wonder of who they are in this sacred season of childhood. And I wanted the dresses to be as meaningful as the portraits themselves—crafted with intention, beauty, and care. That’s when I reached out to Charlotte Sy Dimby.
The Vision: A Collaboration Rooted in Storytelling
I had long admired Charlotte Sy Dimby’s timeless designs—the delicate hand-smocking, the fine materials, the quiet elegance that made each piece feel like it belonged in a storybook. When I shared my vision with her for Caroline and Meredith’s heirloom portraits, Charlotte welcomed the opportunity to create something one-of-a-kind for each of my daughters. Our collaboration was rooted in a shared love for tradition, craftsmanship, and celebrating childhood.
Designing the Dresses
Every detail of the dresses we created together held meaning. Caroline’s dress was made of soft blue cotton, with intricate smocking in shades of blue and delicate dark blossoms that offered just the right amount of contrast. Meredith’s dress was similarly thoughtful, designed to reflect her sweet, spunky personality. From the covered buttons to the elegant bow tied at the back, each element was chosen with purpose.
The dresses felt like a love letter to my girls, echoing the same intention my mother once had for me.
A Conversation with Charlotte Sy Dimby
As part of our collaboration, I had the joy of interviewing Charlotte to give readers a closer look at the team’s artistry and the hearts behind the brand. Here is a glimpse into their world:
Interview Questions for the Charlotte Sy Dimby team:
Brand & Philosophy:
- Can you tell us about the story of Charlotte Sy Dimby?
At the heart of our brand’s foundation lies the unparalleled talent and passion of our designer and founder Monique Ramahay Mandimby. We fondly nickname her the Queen of Smocks due to her spectacular sense of style and endless creativity. Now aged 77, she is still the one hand picking every single fabric and deciding on every thread color. We have a unique boutique called L’Île aux Fées (meaning fairy island) in the very heart of Paris and a website allowing us to ship internationally.
We are most famous for our classic French style handmade smocked and embroidered dresses. They are well suited to heirloom portraits, ceremonies, birthdays but also daily chic wear. We dress little girls from 3m to 12y and boys up to 4y.
- What inspired you to specialize in smocking and timeless children’s wear?
The smocks craftsmanship, meaning the needle work tradition of embroidering on top of tightly pleated panels of fabric, is a disappearing art. Keeping it alive and passing it down within our team is a mission we have embraced with true passion. We firmly believe in the importance of know-how preservation.
As for timeless children’s fashion, it’s not just a long lasting trend! It’s a way to preserve childhood innocence, to celebrate those fast fleeting years, to bring happy memories from our own past and create new ones with the next generation. It’s a tangible way of passing down a legacy of values, of elegance, a true art of living which goes beyond mere clothing and fashion.
- How would you describe the heart behind your brand?
We like to use quotes to express our feelings and emotions. The one below describes our philosophy very well.
“It is truly useful since it is beautiful” – Little Prince from Saint Exupéry.
We sincerely believe in the immense power of beauty! Beyond the visual pleasure of seeing our little ones well dressed, wrapping them in beauty is a way to educate their senses, to give them self confidence and most of all to bring joy! Spreading seeds of happiness is at the core of all our actions. From making dreams come true for special events, to adding personalized notes, or going the extra mile to bring a smile to a little girl’s face, each and every detail matters. “No act of kindness” is ever wasted as Mother Theresa said. At our very humble scale, we like to think we can make a small difference in the lives of the families we meet through our dresses.
You can read more about our philosophy on our journal.
On Creative Process:
4. How do you decide which styles, colors, and fabrics to feature each season?
We have a rather unique creative process. Since our dresses are made in very limited edition, with one of each size of each design only, we have new collections every month! This is a wonderful way to make each child feel unique and also to renew our creativity.
Our designer hand picks every fabric herself! She needs to be almost physically attracted to them. When she goes “fabric treasure hunting” as we like to call it, she is just as excited as a child in a candy store! Once she falls in love with a fabric, the rest unfolds naturally! The vision of the dress comes to her very naturally. With the help of our talented team, she then brings it to life.
Created from A to Z within our very own atelier, not a single detail is left to chance. The fabric must be appealing but also long lasting, easy to wash, soft to the skin. The thread colors must create a visual harmony. The hems are handmade, the buttons self covered and each dress has a cotton open work petticoat allowing a perfect twirl!
On Custom Work:
5. What is the process like when a client requests a custom piece, as we did for Caroline and Meredith?
Custom work remains rather exceptional! When asked we carefully evaluate the request. Special pieces entail a “hand in hand, heart to heart” trust relationship with the family as we collaborate together to create a unique piece. It’s an exciting adventure, always a creative challenge and what a rewarding one! It’s a joy to make dreams come true!
If you are interested in a custom piece, please send us an email at info@charlottesydimby.com clearing stating your wish. Please contact us about 2 months ahead. Friends and clients of Meghan will always be warmly welcome.
Personal Insight:
6. As creators, what moments make your work feel most meaningful?
We feel immensely blessed to be passionate about what we do to the point that we do not consider it as work! Creating a virtuous circle of love, joy and beauty brings meaning to our commitment. Keeping the traditional craftsmanship of smocks and embroidery alive, creating beautiful pieces with our team whom we consider as family and celebrating childhood with families all around the globe is a daily source of delight!
You can learn more about our world here
Follow Charlotte sy Dimby on Instagram at @charlotte_sy_dimby
Shop online (worldwide shipping including to the US)
Email to request to a custom made dress : info@charlottesydimby.com
Visit the brand’s Parisian dress store : L’Ile aux Fées
Closing Reflections: Creating Beauty That Lasts
This collaboration with Charlotte Sy Dimby has been more than a creative project—it has been a return to legacy, to the roots of my own story, and a step toward preserving the stories of my daughters. The dresses we created are stitched with love, history, and intention. They are part of something much bigger than fashion; they are part of how we remember.
To the mothers and grandmothers reading this: if you’ve ever considered commissioning portraits of your children or grandchildren, let this be your nudge. The days are long, but the years are short—and a painted portrait lasts forever.To purchase Caroline’s dress for your little princess, please visit here. To learn more about what heirloom portraits are and why they matter, visit here.
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