Help, I can't get a school summer dress to fit my 9 year old daughter!

[mummyloveslucy]

Hi, my daughter is very tall for her age at 5 foot 1. She is also quite big built and her waist is a 32inch.
Last year she wore an M&S standard age 13. Now it's too small and the biggest they do is an age 13 plus size. The waist is 28.5 in on that one.
Really not sure what to do now. Is there any way of letting them out that isn't obvious? Or are there some makes which go bigger?
Thanks.

[Littlefish]

Are these any good?

[Littlefish]

Or this one?

[EdithWeston]

You definitely mean waist size? The biggest waist I can find is a 16+ (John Lewis) at 30 inches.

What fabric do you need? And is there a shirt and skirt/shorts option as an alternative? What size chest does she need?

[mummyloveslucy]

Thank you. These are a bit too big, but it's good to know you can get them this big for when she's older.

[mummyloveslucy]

That 2nd one looks good. Thank you.

[mummyloveslucy]

Yes, she's an adult size 10-12 around the waist. The M&S petite size 12 fits her perfectly with just the right growing room.

[mummyloveslucy]

I think her chest is about 30inches.

[EvilTwins]

My sister had similar issues with my neice. She found the drop-waisted zip up dresses from M&S were the best fit.

[Littlefish]

mummy - I know this is absolutely not what you are asking for help with, but I remember you posting about Lucy's height and weight before. Did you manage to get any support from your consultant? From your first message, it would seem that she's put on about 4 inches on her waist in the last year. That's quite a big increase, and one you might like to talk ant with your GP or consultant next time you see them. Apologies if you've already got this in hand.

[Littlefish]

Kotinka - Mummyloveslucy has posted many times about her daughter over the past 8 years. In fact, she's one of the first posters I remember when I joined. I have posted supportively on many of those threads and have done so again on this thread. If Mummyloveslucy doesn't want to comment on my post then that is entirely up to her. My post to her is not critical, unpleasant or unsupportive. Yours to me, however, is quite snide.

[addictedtosugar]

I can't find the wasit size, but would any of these fit??

[zirca]

Perhaps make one?

[RhondaJean]

Some of them are quite stretchy with a zip down the front, perhaps a bigger size of those would fit as opposed to the pure cotton ones?

[mummyloveslucy]

Littlefish- I'm not sure weather or not she's gained 4 inches around her waist in the last year, but she is following the top percentile line for both height and weight with no sudden rises. We've spoken to her GP who doesn't seen concerned, nor did her consultant who's only advice was to give her more fruit and veg. Really??? So all in all, they've been useless.
To be honest though, she doesn't look at all fat, just well built. I see loads of children who actually do look very overweight, and wonder how they manage with clothes.
We're insuring she has a healthy diet and excercises as much as she can. Apart from that, there's not much else we can do.

[mummyloveslucy]

The strange thing is, she's an age 13 in all other M&S clothes and they are perfect in height and width. Just not the school uniforms. In Joules and fat face, she's an 11-12. (With growing room)

[ihearttc]

Have you tried the BHS generous fit ones? They do only do up to age 13 but they are very generous.

I have a 9 year old who is built very solidly (like a rugby player)...he is 4ft 9 (I am 4ft 10 lol!) and we get his trousers from there and from Sturdy Kids. We actually usually have to size down rather than go up about 4 sizes like we normally do.

[mummyloveslucy]

Oh brilliant, I'll have a look there.

[ihearttc]

No problem! I know how difficult is it trying to find school uniform when they are shaped slightly differently to the norm. DS is in 11-12 normal clothes as well. It might be worth ordering some from BHS and having a look at them rather than go on the measurements online cause we ordered the age 9 trousers and they were really big.

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

Could you find a local dressmaker to make some dresses for your dd? If you can, it would have some advantages over shop bought dresses - for example, they would be able to put a deep hem on the dress, so if she got taller, the dress could be let down. They could also build in a bit of room in the seams and darts too, so the dress could be let out a bit if necessary.

[Littlefish]

Mummy - it sounds like you're doing all the right things [smile ]. Perhaps M&S have changed the cut of their dresses and they're just not the right shape for your dd. I know that Next jeans fit me really well, whereas M&S are just the wrong shape for me? I hope you find something suitable elsewhere.