help! dd needs to dress up for a formal music recital ,what shall she wear?

[brimfull]

she's 15 ,a size 8 and 5'2.No heels.She's been told to wear formal ,no idea what that means.It is a young musicians competition and appearance is also part of the judging apparently....wtf?
We haven't got a clue.

would she wear strapless? like leona wore on the x factor
with ballerina pumps
or do you think she is too young

What's she doing? Solo? In a group/choir? If the latter then it's usually black skirt/white shirt. If she's doing a solo then something smart but not looking like a mini-adult I'd say, and not too cocktaily either. Might be worth checking with the teacher/organiser whether formal means long.

yes i was thinking too that formal may mean long...

BBC Young Musician website - not a lot of pics but something with thin straps?

no formal doesn't mean long

she's performing solo,the flute
don't think she'd be comfortable in strapless

at our school (10yrs ago) formal for this sort of thing was verging on ballgown type thing - something long and slightly floaty (depending on what instrument she plays - floaty doesn't work for organist as I learned to my cost ).

monsoon have lots of nice stuff, as does debenhams

That hots the nail on the head really - she has to feel comfortable in it, able to move freely, and not to feel self conscious in something she wouldn't normally wear. (Unless she wears jeans all the time in which case she'll have to get used to something more dressy!)

god ,I was thinking more a skirt ,a line ,knee length,and nice top.

I'll have to check with the teacher.

fannyannie,I bet that's the sort of thing the school is after.It's the first time for the school to hold the competition.
She asked the teacher and she said"as formal as you've got" so I suppose she's avoiding the "please go and spend loads of dosh"

So confusing

Apparently the audience has been asked to dress smart aswell.

I got my favourite concert dress in a charity shop it was a GORGEOUS and a designer label (the name which escapes me now - but it was designer - honest LOL) and it cost me a whopping £7.50 in the Red Cross shop

Also had a long Droopy and Brown number - only wore it a few times though and then developed boobs

I would go for 'wedding outfit' type thing. For the flute, she wants something that won't ride up her back when she lifts her arms. Definitely long not short - short for music recitals looks tarty imo. I wouldn't go for the whole 'ballgown' Young musician style dress - she needs to feel comfortable.

It needs to look like she's made an effort without her feeling mortified!

this is the sort of thing I would go for or this - they are classed as 'ballgown' but aren't too floaty or big skirted!

When you say long tortoise-do you mean long skirt.
She looks a bit swamped in long skirts because of her height-5ft 2

xposts tortoise,I think she would say that was too grown up looking for her.

Just not short! I've seen girls look really terrible when they've gone for short dresses/skirts! Just looks wrong on music platform! I would always go for a long dress!

Would trousers be disastrous??

What's her favourite shop?

Trousers could be lovely actually! Depending what you put them with.

her favourite shops
top shop
river island

topshop would have nothing suitable

i like the dress tortoise linked

hmm i dont think trousers would make the teacher happy

i like the kiko black dress second row

That's lovely nailpolish!

sorry,which dress ,can't see a kiko one

I have a dress very similar to this but in lilac prom style
It is to fit age 13 from debenhams height 158/ 62 cm. If this would be any good you are welcome to have it for free as I'm not sure I will ever fit in it again. I can measure it and send photos if you would like