Ideas for a wedding outfit for DD who doesn't do girlie clothes..

[hattyyellow]

Help much appreciated.

We've been invited to a wedding in late April next year. DD, 8, spends most of her life on her bike or scooter or climbing trees, so is generally dressed in tracksuit trousers and a hoodie. Which is absolutely fine with me.

But we've been invited to a wedding next year and I'd love her to look a little smarter! My youngest DD is already desperate to go and look for a new party dress, but older DD is desperate not to be put in something girlie.

I'm trying to think of what she could therefore wear. Haven't been to a wedding for years as most of our friends got married years ago. What do teenage and adult guests wear who don't wear girlie things?

I'd like a tiny nod towards femininity for her outfit as she has shortish hair so otherwise I will spend the day explaining that she isn't a boy and she gets a little sensitive when people think she is a boy, although I can't really blame them!

The family inviting us live quite rurally so an outfit needs to be fairly practical. They've also spent a lot of time working and travelling in Africa and India, so I did think maybe along the lines of tunic/trousers type thing? Not sure where to start with looking for this!

Any help gratefully received. MIL wants her to wear a dress as to her that's what little girls wear for weddings, full stop. So I'm trying to find a compromise!

I have written this thread about my dd many times in the past! At the last posh party we went to she wore white skinny jeans with a brenton top and a denim blue blazer all from Zara. I think she looked pretty smart. She's also done the shorts with tights look before.

Like the breton top suggestions thank you - and slightly smarter than plainer white top perhaps..

Tunics and leggings work very well for skinny girls. Shorts and tights are good but often too baggy on the waist. Leggings are just as comfortable as trackies and you can get pretty ones in h and m in the spring . Although some have lace trim which I'm guessing is unsuitable.

Tunic, cropped leggings and blazer would be fine for a wedding. Ballet flats or sandals with straps are easy to run in.

Sounds like a lot of it is about being comfortable and free to run and play . As all children should be of course

Sparkly Playsuit?

Lace Playsuit And Jacket Dark Blue with White Trim?

Feather Beaded Jumpsuit?

Pleated Jumpsuit?

Would she go for anything like these?

Late April is a pain, it can be Summer hot, or freezing cold and change in the course if the day.

I used to go away for Easter to Cornwall and it was a packing nightmare.

I'd be very tempted to go with a winter play suit or smart shorts and a nice blouse (you may have to lay down the law over frilly or sparkly collar as a nod to older relatives, not looking like a boy). Blazer if possible (cropped cardigan if not).

And pack thin tights, thick tights (or leggings) and sandles and shoes, so she can ditch tights altogether if it's that sort if April day.

My DD2(12) is having a no dress phase and her smart outfits are a black children's playsuit from Debenham's with gold spots on the top and an adults (size 6) black shorts cream peter pan blouse one from dotty p.

The latter looks amazing, except she looks like a short 15y, which is very unnerving.

Fortunately we avoided any dress angst at the last wedding we went to, she was a bridesmaid, she adores the bride and took pink and frilly as part of the job.

Lovely ideas, but no all too girlie I'm afraid! Shoes! Gah - I hadn't even thought about shoes. She lives in trainers! Basically any clothes need to look like something a boy could also wear at a pinch - look smart- and I need to convince her to tie her hair up so she looks slightly more girlie. The family hosting the wedding would prefer people to make an effort, but they would not be expecting traditional party dresses which makes things easier at least! (Unlike MIL who is horrified that I let DD run around in trousers at all!)

How about something like this top: www.hm.com/gb/product/18006?article=18006-C
You could put a (flower) brooch on it if it needs to be a bit more girly.

If you can find some metallic brocade trousers, maybe that would work with a classic shirt?

Zara has glittery shoes, sometimes even glittery trainers, trainers with studs and they are quite cool. If you want, you can use silk ribbon instead of the laces - it gives a more feminine look.

This sort of thing is wedding/April appropriate and cute but without being to girly. Can't link but is in next right now

Dr Marten boots seem to be very trendy among the KS2 girls at my DDs school. Maybe patent? You can get cheaper versions too,if she likes the look but not the price. May be look on Amazon?

How about something like this:

Smart jumpsuit

With this jacket:

Tux

And boots. Go for the biker, Dr Martens syle or even smart wedge trainers would be fine:

Biker

DM Style

Wedge trainers

The DM style and wedge trainers you can get in all different colours and bling variations.

For any jumpers and accessories, you can look at both boys' and girls' styles. The boys' jewellery will be a lot less twinkly. River Island seems to do a few cool girls' jumpers in neon colours, so they're bright but not sparkly or girly.

Funky scarf?

Red and Black

This is nice

Maybe brogues for shoes?

You could also try Cyrillus - it is a French catalogue which has girls' stuff that isn't excessively pink and sparkly, but not as pricey as Bonpoint.

Thanks so much all, will check out all the links.