Dress for a 7 year old

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MIL wants to buy DD (turning 7) a "pretty dress" for her birthday.
My DD lives in leggings and t-shirts. She has several rarely worn dresses, the two which she concedes to wear are dinosaur dresses, soft jersey type material. I have to admit one doesn't really suit her it's from Boden and this cut: here. She doesn't like dresses because they are annoying to climb in.

The other is a long sleeved tunic type dress from next, again a jersey type material. And I don't think it comes under the "pretty dress" category that MIL is talking about. She wants me to choose although I did suggest asking DD or taking her to choose something if she will agree She is planning to take Dd to see a show at some point. Apart from that it would be day to day wear.

There are so many I don't know where to start! I don't want anything polyester, and it should be something that she can wear for as long as possible! So I was thinking more a summer dress that can be worn with a cardigan until the summer. For me a summer dress needs to have shoulders, it gets quite sunny where we are and I don't want her to burn because of daft straps.

In case you hadn't guessed, I've no notion of fashion and I don't wear dresses myself. Price range £60 ish.

Honestly I think a trip to the shops is a better idea. Get DD to walk about Debenhams, John Lewis etc and see what she likes the look of.

Sounds to me like your mil wants to buy something that your dd won’t like it wear. Is there something else she can buy?

£60 seems quite a high budget for a girl's everyday dress. Surely most dresses that are near £60 will be more party dresses, and not ones that she can climb in.

Rather than a dress, what about a playsuit? It should be easier to be active with shorts on the bottom half. I'm sure there are good quality, pretty playsuits out there.

60 quid on a dress she doesn’t want to wear and you don’t want to choose. Why?

We had similar with my MIL - my DD never really wears dresses either. In the end, we for a sparkly party jumpsuit from John Lewis. DD chose it herself and absolutely loves it. She wears it with ankle boots and looks very funky!

We don't have any department type stores near us. All her clothes are either from the supermarket close to us or online from next or H&M! My other DC has SN so having to travel over an hour to walk round shops is not practical at all.

60 quid on a dress she doesn’t want to wear and you don’t want to choose. Why?
Probably she thinks I'm depriving my child of the chance to be "girly".

Are playsuits not annoying when you need the loo? I'm not sure it's the best way to spend, but DH is of the opinion if MIL really wants to (we have made other suggestions) then it's her money and we should let her. But it means I'm landed with trying to find something Dd will actually wear!

I agree that this doesn’t sound like a great gift as your DD probably doesn’t want a lovely dress. But, assuming your MIL is set on it, have you looked at brands like Mini Rodini, Gray Label, Popupshop etc? They might fit the bill. Scandi Mini, Junior Edition and Scout & Co all stock a decent range of those brands and others similar.

I wouldn't spend £60 on a dress. Something like this is quite nice but it depends if your DD is happy to wear it. Could you show her some options online?
www.marksandspencer.com/all-over-print-dress-3-months-7-years-/p/p60260883?image=SD_04_T77_3238Q_Y8_X_EC_90&color=IVORYMIX&prevPage=plp Dress

By 7yo, I think play/ jumpsuits are fine for when you need the loo, my DD finds them really easy to slip in and out of - but that’s personal preference. If not, how about a skirt/ top combo or even top and culottes? I do sympathise as my MIL is quite obsessed with giving DD “girly” things and that’s just not DD’s style.

Something like these with a nice top...? www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10701_10001_240020432543_-1

www.very.co.uk/child-baby/girls-clothes/dresses/e/b/2368.end

OK so what about ordering from somewhere like these and ordering a ton? So long as you can get to a post offi e to return them you'll only be charged for what you keep. Get her to pick out 5 and try them on at home? I jaut think the fit matters so much at that age she needs to try them on

How about a dress from sewing circus? The materials they use are very stem related or cool prints which are not too girly. Their playdresses are a nice loose style and DD can choose material.

Dd wears hers with leggings.

I’d go for a tunic shape so she can wear over leggings. Possibly sequinned/ with a print involving a favourite animal.