Help with clothes for 11 year old girl please

niklepic

My sister is getting married in May but I'm really struggling to find something for my 11 year old daughter to wear. She does still like to look girly without looking like a little girl - ankle length dresses are out apparently lol. I don't really want to get her anything too bridesmaidy or too expensive as she's growing that fast she probably won't wear it again.

She's quite a big girl for her age in an age 12-13 but i can't find anything that isn't a bit too grown up or too casual. Does anyone have any idea of where to look? I've tried the usual shops, Debenhams, Boden, BHS etc but am really struggling (and i refuse to buy her the black mini dress she's seen which is apparently "mint" - god help me when she actually hits her teens!).

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

RachelW1987

Hi nicklepic

How about Primark and New Look

They do younger ranges and are very reasonably priced for the amount of times she will wear it and im sure she would apprietiate a Primark or New Look outfit rather than BHS at her age. You have a lot to look forward to when she's in her teens lol. Happy shopping

lostinrates

Monsoon? She might fit into small adult size if she doesn't want to wear a 'child's dress' and things in my local stores always seem to be on sale. .

Piggles12345

You should just get a plain knee length skirt and top (either a T-shirt or sleeveless top) and dress them up with accessories. Then you can go as grown up as you want by adding more and different stuff.

For example, a plain shirt and sleeveless top with a contrasting bolero would look great. Then you could add a flower hair fascinator and match this with some bracelets and earings and co-ordinate it all with a little clutch bag. If it was a little bit chilly, you could get her a nice pashmina.

If you start simple then you can accessorize until you have reached the level of 'grown-up ness' or smartness that you and she are happy with...

niklepic

Rachel completely forgot about New Look!!
Piggles I'm loving your suggestion and I'm thinking it will save some arguments (i'm sure my mum would have killed me if i had my dd's attitude!) also lostinrates i didn't even think of getting her adult clothes - and she's only about an inch shorter than me lol.

sarymclary

Have you had a look in the Next catalogue? They do older children sizes in there, and also have a special occasion, and smart casual look. I tend to fall back on them if I struggle to find it on the High St.

If you have one nearby, I would also have a look in John Lewis, as they have a good child/teen/young adult section. If she's close to a height of 5ft, then consider women's petite sizes, which is what I wear. They will have narrower shoulders, and shorter arms/hem lengths to accommodate the shorter proportions.

sneggy

hi nikle
we had a wedding last year(3 actually) & i had a nightmare getting dd something to wear, i found a miss sixty white summer dress new on ebay for £30 odd pounds it was smart but the only thing i found suitable
hth sneggy

ailuro2

TK Maxx is your friend for wedding outfits - the fancy designer stuff always seems to be tiny and have quite wild patterns - but there might be something there to appeal to an 11 y.o.

I know my DD really likes some of the dresses in there.

moggitymog

i would agree with monsoon, they usually have some sale items

hm71_2

I love this top from new look
http://www.newlook.co.uk/1608589/160858940/ProductDetails.aspx
pair it with some nice trousers, accessories.

Savvy_Sue

Would she enjoy trawling charity shops? They sometimes have small stuff which might suit, especially if you are going down the accessories route!