Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Shopping

From everyday essentials to big purchases, swap tips and recommendations. For the best deals without the hassle, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Original poster

Bridesmaid/Party Dress for 10 mth old

27 replies

lydialemon · 14/04/2004 00:20

OK people.

DD will be getting christened at the end of August when she will be about 10 mths old, but more than likely wearing 12/18. I've so far hated pretty much every christening dress I've looked at (too frilly/shiny/yeuch etc). The only outfit I liked was £160 which is so far out of my budget as to be ridiculous.

However, I've seen some really lovely bridesmaids dresses which are far more me and cost a lot less (£30/40). I'm trying to do a bit of research on it (internet window shopping ) but I don't shop for clothes for me and DD is my only girl, so I don't know the right places to look in. So far I've possiblilities from BHS, Next and Monsoon, where else can I look?

This will be the first dress DD wears in public so I want it to be right. Yes, I am mean - DD is currently banned from wearing dresses until she is walking, MIL hates me ( I also hate frills and pink although I've given up on that one 'cos otherwise she'd be a bit limited clotheswise)

So come on all you shoppers, and mums of girly girls please point me in the right direction.

OP posts:
alexsmum · 14/04/2004 00:26

Hi, I don't have daughters so I might be a bit off target here but evry season Next do a nice christening dress. Quite plain, cream etc. They also have some nice partyish dresses. John Lewis also have some lovely bridesmaidish dresses and they also do some lovely linen christening dresses.Monsoon do some lovely ones don't they?
Good luck with the search!

Chandra · 14/04/2004 00:31

Mamas & Papas, Vertbaudet in Internet. DS was christened at 10m and then was when we realised that most white clothes are only made from birth to 6m, It was a nightmare trying to find something in white, at the end we opted for white trousers, a beautiful light grey cardigan and white suede shoes but I will have gone for red if it would help to avoid the frills and sateen.

Original poster
lydialemon · 14/04/2004 00:39

I'm not bothered by it being white. They are being christened Greek Orthadox and it doesn't seem to matter too much - they spend most of the ceremony naked or in a towel anyway! ( It's a dunking one) DS1 wore cream and blue, DS2 was a winter one and wore a little navy suit and red waistcoat (cuter than it sounds!).

OP posts:
Chandra · 14/04/2004 00:42

Then you have it really easy, I vote for Monsoon

Original poster
lydialemon · 14/04/2004 00:52

this one?

OP posts:
littlerach · 14/04/2004 07:51

DD wore a dress from Debenhams when we got married, think it was made by Tgerlily. Another vote for Monsoon, beautiful dresses.

BosworthBear · 14/04/2004 08:11

Another vote for Monsoon, my DD had a cream silk dress for her christening from there 2 years ago and had another "party" dress from there a couple of weeks ago for her brothers christening. He had a cream linen Monsoon suit too!

Worth going into see the stock but you need to go to a large one to get the full benefit (Birmingham Bull ring has an excellent choice) because stock varies from store to store and is constantly updated. If they haven't got it in your size they will source it for you and post it to you for £3.50. If you have a monsoon card there is no fee and if the item goes in the sale within a number of days (30???) and you bought it on the card they will refund the difference. I was told that the next sale was in June and advised to stock up with summer clothes in may when the sizes were available and then claim the difference back in the next month!!

Hulababy · 14/04/2004 08:14

We got DD's Christening gown from Next. Quite a plain, not too frilly dress. Very very reasonable priced too

Monsoon do lovely dresses.

BHS also do a wedding range and I am sure that their dresses start tiny.

Debenhams do nice posh children's wedding/party dresses too.

Blackduck · 14/04/2004 08:47

M&S also have bridesmaid type dresses...

motherinferior · 14/04/2004 09:01

I relented on the same no-dresses-pre-walking rule today - DD2 is in her first frock, a denim pinny her sister was given and never wore. (She's got a long-sleeved vest that buttons over her nappy, underneath.) And very sweet she looks too.

This is truly cheapskate suggestion, but have you tried Primark? There are some utterly beautiful frocks for little girls there. And/or the even cheaper chain Ethel Austin.

motherinferior · 14/04/2004 09:02

When I say beautiful, I mean Monsoonish. But a lot cheaper. Therefore an option for ahem total cheapskates like moi.

babster · 14/04/2004 09:20

Try Ebay?

aloha · 14/04/2004 09:33

I really like Verbaudet. Not expensive either. And you can buy online or from the catalogue so no trailing round the shops. I find the quality really excellent.

binkie · 14/04/2004 10:22

Have a look at Cyrillus - here, straight to babies' dresses - I always like the chic children's party clothes. Prices not over the top.

I've used Cyrillus because it's the only place I managed to find 100% cotton (ie not cotton/poly mix) school shirts for my ds - they were about £16 each but are beautifully made and are showing no signs of wear at all.

Original poster
lydialemon · 14/04/2004 11:38

Thanks for the ideas! I think I'm going to end up with a Monsoon one (or possibly the gold and cream one from BHS)

Unless... my compensation from my car accident comes through in time and then .........

OP posts:
wilbur · 14/04/2004 12:00

That Monsoon one you put a link to is gorgeous lydialemon, I was admiring it the other day and wishing that one of dd's godmothers would get married. Not for their future happiness, obviously, just so I could show off my daughter in a pretty frock.

Original poster
lydialemon · 14/04/2004 12:03

The girl in the picture kind of looks like DD too, so its definitely top contender at the moment!

OP posts:
motherinferior · 15/04/2004 11:55

Lydia, I suddenly remembered - there's a shop in East Dulwich (P13 bus route do you?) which has the most enchanting dresses which I think would be in your budget. Utterly lovely, handpainted, delicate...if you're interested, drop me an email and I'll give you the shop details!

frogs · 15/04/2004 12:17

Not particularly budget, but lovely anyway is www.childrenssalon.co.uk (someone tell me how to do links!) which is a shop in Tunbridge Wells that do online mail order. They have dresses which are lovely but non-frilly, also lovely Irish linen christening wear and is the only place we managed to find an understated Communion dress for my not very girly nine-year old.

Original poster
lydialemon · 15/04/2004 13:31

Oooh Frogs I like that one - they have a lovely little sailor dress and shorts which is really elegant and simple sarah dress and shorts

MI, should have thought of wandering down the road to Dulwich! FULL of posh shops! I'll EM you.

This is fun.

OP posts:
smellymelly · 15/04/2004 20:49

I'd have to vote Monsoon too, although I did actually get my daughters bridesmaid dress in the Next Jan sale - bargain!!!

Monsoon have got a gorgeous ivory dress at the moment that looks like raw silk with coloured stitching on ....

twiglett · 15/04/2004 20:51

message withdrawn

kid · 16/04/2004 20:37

I saw some lovely dresses in Adams today. We are going to a wedding in September so could be getting one for my DD. BHS also do some lovely ones. Don't forgot to let us know which one you decide on.

Original poster
lydialemon · 06/07/2004 01:34

As kid asked so nicely.......

DDs christening isn't actually until 22/8, but we took some pictures of her in her dress for the frames we are having for the bonbonnieres (christening favours). In the end I spotted a dress whilst idly browsing through ebay (as you do!) So after looking at dresses for £40+ I got one for £11.49 It has a matching hat but DD is SO not a hat person

She's my little cutie

OP posts:
3GirlsMum · 06/07/2004 02:15

We have a large Next near to us and it has some gorgeous cream dresses in with matching accessories.