An intimate tea party took place at Rustan’s Makati on the magical children’s floor to introduce the Katrina Goulbourn Babes line of christening gowns. The mood relaxed and friendly like a baptismal celebration – with the whimsical, beautiful setting and vignettes by Rustan’s featuring different settings themed after Goulbourn’s designs, where ladies chattered and enjoyed none other than the Peninsula’s delicious high-tea from petite tea sandwiches to delectable mini pastries.

Six adorable babies, who were carried around by their proud and lovely mothers, wore the christening gowns for the occasion – bringing her designs to life, and showing a range from traditional and romantic to more modern, even coloured pieces, with elements taken from our heritage.

In the past, baptismal gowns were made by the mothers or grandmothers themselves in more traditional designs using lace and embroidered fabrics, with a similar look, in natural white, cream or ivory – often unisex in design and with the intention of handing it down from one generation to the next. However, with women busy in the work place and the almost-lost skill of sewing and embroidering in the home, gowns are now often store bought or in the rare occasion, custom made by individual seamstresses under the direction of the mother/grandmother. Gowns often lack quality fabric and construction, with those that are off the rack, done in often repetitive designs with typical machine embroidery, each of which are hard to differentiate from the next. This leaves young mothers with very few choices as to what gown they can find for their baby to wear on this special occasion. “I wanted to offer mothers christening gowns that are modern in feel but with a dreamy, timeless look. With busy lives and careers, mothers nowadays have little time to devote to the art of creating a gown for the baby’s special occasion. They have a modern point of view and may not necessarily have an heirloom gown to pass on to their child. Many mothers want to find a new one, if their own is in bad shape, that is beautiful and unique to then keep as an heirloom gown for their children’s children.” says designer Katrina Goulbourn.

Katrina has been doing gowns for the baptisms of her brides’ babies for years now, though this is the first time she presents a full collection of these special gowns to buy off the rack. From traditional shades of ivory and cream to delightful colours, both pale and bright, she offers an array of choices in colour. The designs are both unisex and also specific to gender, with distinctly girlish or boyish charm.“Colour is something I started experimenting with as it opens up a whole range of choices, and life is colourful after all! It was so refreshing to design this line, like living in a fairy tale, my imagination was so full of ideas, I tried to capture the dreams of a child, of the parents and bring them in to each gown.” explains Goulbourn.

Mothers, you need dream no more of christening gowns you seek for your precious little one with the arrival of this charming line.

Her first collection entitled “A Small, Small World” takes inspiration from historical costume and Philippine culture, with themes that are Filipino, Spanish and Chinese in influence.The Katrina Goulbourn Babes line of christening gowns offers baby couture gowns. The gowns are atypical, with design influences coming from anything for the little princes and princesses  – historical costumes to current trends in fashion and culture. No design is exactly alike with fabrics dyed per piece to match hand-picked trimmings, lace and custom created embroidery. 

This event was made possible by Rustan’s and the Peninsula. Photos by Rachel Rillo

Katrina Goulbourn Babes Christening Gowns is exclusively available at Rustan’s Makati, Shangri-la Plaza and Alabang branches, Children’s section and at Silk Cocoon

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