Dress Clothing for Girls

There are so many fun occasions for girls to dress up:  Birthdays, Holidays, and Weddings to name a few. What will your little girl need: Dresses,  Mary Janes,  Barrettes,  are a few ideas.  Read on for more suggestions from this head-to-toe guide and make your little princess sparkle no matter what the occasion.

There are three basic options when it comes to getting girls dresses for special occasions:

Three Dress Up Options
Dresses  Pros: All-in-one outfit makes getting coordinated easier. Cons: Some girls find them uncomfortable or drafty. Popular Brands Ralph Lauren  Sweet Ivy  Hanna Andersson  Best & Co.	Skirt  + Blouse  Pros: A little more comfortable than a dress and pieces can often be worn separately. Cons: Less formal and pieces must be well coordinated. Popular Brands Burberry  Monkeywear  Susanne Lively	Blouse  + Pants  Pros: Comfortable and versatile. Tomboys will most likely agree to this option. Cons: Least formal. Popular Brands J Crew  Ivy & Moon  Garnet Hill  LL Bean

More Information

• Fabrics
• In the Summer look for these fabrics:
• seersucker 
• linen 
• cotton sundresses 
• Wintertime fabrics:
• satin 
• velvet 
• corduroy 
• Other types of Dresses:
• Flower Girls' dresses  also come in a variety of fabrics and colors. It's a good idea to check with the bride before ordering a dress for your girl.
• First communion dresses  tend to be all white. You may also need white gloves  for this occasion--again, best to check with your church before buying anything.
• Pants: velvet jeans and Tuxedo-style pants are easy to coordinate with many dressy holiday tops.
• Tops: cashmere sweater sets always look nice and are very versatile.
• A bit of sparkle on a sweater or top can be fun for dress-up occasions--but try to limit the sparkle to one piece of clothing.
• Skirts: Tiered skirts are a current trend. Skirts can work in a variety of lengths--comfort should count for something.

Current Trends:

• Velvet
• Lace
• Romantic touches: Bell sleeves, embroidery and bows

Covering Up
	In cool climates, girls will need a dress coat to wear over their party clothes. Shopping Mommies loves the following brands: Burberry,  Widgeon,  Triologi  and Cozy Toes.  Current styles include coats with fur (and faux-fur) trim, and Chanel-inspired tweeds. Look for fun linings (hot pink or leopard) to spice up a sedate style. Alternatives: Dressy cardigan sweater  Shawl  or wrap

The Finishing Touches
Hair Accessories  Bows  Headbands  Barrettes	Dress Shoes  Mary Janes  are the perennial style favorite for dress-up. Ballet slippers  and t-straps  are other styles to consider.	Purses  Little girls often love emulating Mom and carrying a handbag.	Tights  A fun pair of stockings  can liven up a stiff dress. Tights and stockings will also keep little legs warm in the winter.	Jewelry  A locket,  pendent,  bracelet  or necklace  might be a nice touch. Some parents go in for earrings.

External Links

• For ideas on dress-up tea parties check out the Family Education Web site.
• About.com has a guide to help little flower girls prepare for the wedding.