If you’re following the blog, you know that neither my friend Jade nor I have daughters. So, you might be wondering why I’m talking about girls and not boys which should be my specialty (even my Golden Retriever is a boy!). Well, I honestly can’t give you any other answer than “because I want to.”

Ever since I was a little girl, I was all into dressing up in my mum’s clothing, using her makeup, and doing my hair while singing in front of the bedroom floor mirror. Also, it was during that time I would play house, cook and take care of my baby girl dolls.

I didn’t get my real-life girly, but that hasn’t stopped me from looking through the lovely dresses available in the stores around. This means I do have some information that might be of use to you as a parent of a daughter after shopping for casual and girls’ party dresses for close family friends.

Dressing Up a Little Girl for a Party

Shopping according to the occasion is just as important for kids as it is for adults. For example, wedding receptions and christenings are some events you won’t want your little girl to appear at wearing her regular T-shirts, jeans, and sneakers combo. The same can be said about some birthdays.

These are opportunities when you can treat her with some stylish girls’ party dresses that are comfortable as they’re eye-catching. Honestly, what could be more formal or fashion-forward for a little girl attending an event of this type than a dress?

You’d be amazed to see just how versatile the range can be, quite like women’s collections, with all the fancy detailing like lace, scalloped hems, sequins, tulle and bow elements, so there’s just the right pick for all the spins and twirls she’d get to do at the upcoming party. There are also different options when it comes to the length of the hem, so be sure to consult your little princess on what she would prefer.

Comfort is something you should keep an eye on too, and even if she opts for a long dress perhaps a shorter one would still be better for her comfortable walking, jumping, and dancing. This is your opportunity as well as a mum to consider whether you like the twinning trend so you two could appear wearing the same style, design, and colours as the perfect mother-daughter duo you are!

Since the season has a say in the shopping decision as much as the aesthetic of the girl’s party wear dress it means you need to also be aware of the breathability and warmth. To be certain your little one stays comfortable, and dry, buy the dress according to the season. In summer you can focus on breathable models made from lighter fabrics, whereas in winter you can get a thicker fabric.

For the seasons periods, you can get something lighter and then boost the warmth with an additional layer piece, like a jumper, jacket, or trench coat. Lastly, you should also base your dress shopping on the choice of accessories. If you don’t already have the accessories at home that would be the right fit for the dress, then you’d also have to shop for them.

Accessories vary for little girls too much like they vary for us, from headpieces like flower girl wreaths and headbands to hair clips and scrunchies, and various jewellery options, bags, and sunglasses. Think of the whole ensemble, how the girls’ party dress would fit with the design of the shoes and the accessories to know what to look for.

Dressing Up a Little Girl for a Casual Outing

When it’s shopping going out to the park, the school, the playground, the supermarket, the mall, or attending gatherings and birthday parties that don’t have a formal code, you have more options. Definitely, more than girls’ party dresses as there are casual dresses, as well as outfits with jeans, leggings, T-shirts, blouses, cardigans, jumpsuits and skirts you can choose from.

In this case, it’s important to buy pieces that would provide her with various looks, kind of like those you would choose to create a capsule wardrobe. The right choice of a shirt could be paired with jeans, leggings, skirts, or even worn over a dress instead of a jacket, so you’d have plenty of outfits with minimal spending. Moreover, footwear like sneakers can just as easily be teamed up with all of these.

If you care about the budget, you can also see if you can use some top layer pieces like the jacket or trench coat for both formal and casual looks so you don’t have to buy separately. Since girls like to copy their mums, let her choose some of the pieces herself, and you’d be amazed at how attentive she is to your style. This also means you’re setting her up for dress success later on in her life!