5 min read
How to choose a birthday dress for a girl
Most birthday dresses fail for the same three reasons: the lining, the weight and the fastening. Here is how to judge all three before you buy.
The short answer
Choose a fully lined dress with a structured bodice and a skirt that moves freely, in her usual age size — sizing up if she is between sizes. Check the lining against the skin, the weight of the skirt and the fastening she will sit against for several hours.
Start with how long she will be wearing it
A dress worn for a thirty-minute photoshoot and a dress worn through a five-hour party are different purchases. For a full celebration, weight is the deciding factor — a heavily beaded skirt is beautiful in pictures and unbearable by the third hour.
Ask how much of the day involves sitting, eating and playing. If the answer is most of it, prioritise a soft lining and a skirt that falls rather than stands rigidly away from the body.
Judge the lining before the silhouette
Almost every complaint about children's occasion wear traces back to the inside of the dress. Net or tulle placed directly against the skin itches within minutes, and exposed seams rub at the underarm and waist.
A well-made dress is lined in soft cotton through the bodice and under the skirt, so the decorative outer layers never touch her.
Match the silhouette to the occasion
- · Full layered skirt — best for entrances, photographs and cake-cutting moments.
- · A-line — the most forgiving across sizes and the easiest to move in.
- · Fitted bodice with a soft flare — good for older children who dislike volume.
- · Velvet or structured fabrics — better for evening and winter functions.
Get the size right the first time
Children's sizing is expressed by age, but children of the same age vary widely. Measure her chest and her height, compare against the size guide, and if she falls between two sizes, choose the larger one.
A slightly roomy dress can be worn comfortably for hours. A slightly tight one will be taken off before the candles.
The details that decide comfort
- · Concealed back zip rather than a row of hard buttons she has to sit against.
- · Adjustable waist finish, which buys you a season of extra wear.
- · Hem clear of the floor so she can run without catching it.
- · Straps wide enough not to dig in under the arms.
Questions we are asked
- What colour birthday dress is best for photographs?
- Soft ivory, blush and champagne tones photograph well in daylight and indoor warm light alike. Deeper tones such as wine or midnight read better in the evening under lamplight.
- How far in advance should I order a birthday dress?
- Order at least a week ahead. Dresses are prepared and dispatched in 2–3 working days, and that leaves room to exchange a size if needed within the 5-day return window.