This dress is NOT appropriate.

[LReo]

My niece, who is 13, sent me a link to this dress saying she would like it for Christmas. I replied saying I don’t think it’s appropriate as it’s clearly an adults dress, the neckline is too low and where would she even wear it?

She’s now really annoyed with me, saying I don’t respect her personal style and all of her friends wear similar. I’ve messaged my niece’s mum and dad who agree with me and are trying to talk to her, but she’s insisting I’m wrong and has now got the hump.

AIBU?

Um have you seen 13 year olds these days, or at least some of them? I have a 14 year old, some of her friends look at least mid 20s with makeup and body shape.
My DD isn't into the fake eyelashes or orange, but she has a perfect hourglass figure, size 8 and The boobs to make this look gorgeous.

I like the dress, she'd look stunning and it's definitely the sort of thing teens are wearing, with trainers.

Surely on most 13 year olds that neck line is going to be half way down their chest? And unless she’s got some extensive low cut, push up support you’ll just have a bra on display.

I would let mine wear it tbh and one of mine is tall and curvy even at 14. She gets cat called and hassled in leggings and a baggy T-shirt or in her ugly school uniform and has done since she was 12.

These days she's had to get pretty robust at dealing with this shit so I'm not going to not get her a dress because it's inappropriate due to other peoples reactions. As a pp said, if she had it she'd wear it with trainers, that very good bare faced make up they can all do now and. vintage Bomber jacket she loves.

She wouldn't want it though as it's not from primark.

It's not very suitable for the time of year but I really don't see the issue. In summer with a denim jacket for daytime or a bbq with sandals I think it would be fine. The model is ridiculously curvy and a 13 /14 won't be. I wore all manner of inappropriate items as a teenager going out clubbing, I don't imagine your niece is going to be doing that yet.

Since when did children aged 13 dictate to their aunts what they want for presents? And then sulk when the aunt says no?

She sounds a right little madam.

I'd be tempted to remind her of her manners (or lack of them) and say if she carries on like this she won't get any present at all!

Send her photo of a Ferrari (insert car of choice) and say you’d like this for Christmas.
The dress is inappropriate for a 13 year old, I wonder if she’s tried her luck sending her Christmas list to other adults…such as an indulgent grandparent or uncle for example.
Imagine the raised eyebrows if she rocked up wearing it on Christmas day at family lunch.

It may look different on a 13 yr old but she will still look naked. I can't believe anyone thinks that might be appropriate anywhere whatever the occasion.

Buying gifts is not compulsory - perhaps DN needs reminding of that. Getting the huff is out of order. Give cash and be done - life is too short especially when a good deed is getting turned on you

I'm not sure why you came down on her like a ton of bricks. Depending on the cut and her shape ,possibly different colour it might be ok. But you just needed to say that's not what you were thinking of and any other ideas. Now she looks really silly with her parents getting involved too. There was no need.

It's better than those shorts they wear

😂

But I don't want to buy adults clothing for a child

Cant she have a hoody and some leggings?

Erm..... can I ask where it's from?? (For myself, not my 14 yr old!! Lol).

I think this is a dress that really needs to be tried on! It could look very different on anyone who isn't a model and doesn't have the perfect lighting. Also it's so tight that I think wearing underwear that doesn't show through might be very tricky - which would make it very unsuitable for a 13 year old!

Exactly - sorry but that isn’t how Christmas presents work! If you ask somebody for something and they say no, you don’t argue back!

Leaving aside the rudeness of asking for a present, because I assume you had asked what she wanted. If you hadn’t and this was a cold open, she’s even ruder!

Your right, it's not age appropriate, it wouldn't look right on a 13 year old anyway, my daughter is 14 and I would not let her wear something like that.

Meh - I was expecting something much more inappropriate! I'd buy it for a 13 year old niece, even if she hardly had the occassion to wear it, the sheer joy of dressing up at that age would make it worth it. Presents are meant to be for the luxurious and frivolous, not the utilitarian and sensible things in life.

Would this be suitable (not sure of how expensive the original not suitable dress is) but this is from River Island is £55:

I’ve been to several do’s in the last year where the 12/13 year old girls were all wearing similar dresses to this but they were very short and they wore them with trainers.

That comment made me feel really sad. Imagine expressing yourself and having someone piss themselves laughing at you.

This is from Shein and it's £3.99. It might be possible to put a short sleeve tshirt underneath it to wear for every day rather than keeping it 'for good wear' if you know what I mean:

It’s not going to look like that on your niece. The dress is fine.

For those saying it would look different on a 13 year old...

Surely that dress is so low cut that it would reveal most of a 13 year olds bra?

I remember borrowing my much older sisters clothes at that age and her tops ended up absurdly low cut on me because I couldn't "fill" them!

There are loads of dresses along that style on Shein in the kids section:

I think she would be v disappointed....it won't look like that on her....or anyone !!!

I don't think it's that bad. Have you seen what some teens wear? At least this goes past her bum.

I was going to u18 discos at that age with denim mini skirts and a butterfly top that tied with 2 bits of string at the back or a boob tube.