Winter wedding outfit for 13yr old

[alicebeauty]

We have a winter family wedding come up and my 13 year old daughter can't find anything to wear. She has very pale sensitive skin and doesn't wear fake tan so she would prefer to have her legs covered or at least a longer dress so no skater style dresses. I would be grateful for any suggestions, maybe a jumpsuit would work?

Last winter for a wedding my DD10 wore gold ballet flats, white leggings, a sparkly gold dress from Next and a white furry stole from Amazon, also a floral/eucalyptus headband from Amazon. Looked lovely. Then just a parka when we went outside

Would she wear leggings?

I think I'd take her shopping and see what she likes.

I went to my uncles wedding when I was 13 or 14. I picked out a mid calf powder blue linen dress 😂with a stripy blue see through cardigan. Thought I looked fab

My 13 yo dts would laugh if I suggested most of these. I could probably get them into a jumpsuit with trainers or DMs.

Buy Lipsy Black Tie Side Crinkle Jersey Jumpsuit (5-16yrs) from the Next UK online shop

Or a skirt like this - different top obvs

Proves how different our kids are @idontlikealdi as my dd wouldn’t have been seen in that jumpsuit let alone DMs. She was all about Nike pros and sporty wear and very very particular about trainers.

What I’m confused about is why people are suggesting children’s wear for a girl, who is size 12, 5’6”. My dd was the same size age 13 and definitely not able to fit into most children’s clothes. She’s now 15 and naturally slimmed down to a size 6/8 and can fit in children’s wear again.

Would be useful if we could know your dd’s style op.

Have you tried going to TK Maxx with her?

DD (only 10 but tall and fits an adult size 10) and I had a great time at TK Maxx trying on adult dresses when we both needed something fancy for an event. There was a large range of styles to try.

We both ended up with really good quality dresses for £50 each (original price tag on mine was £160). I never would have picked out the one she chose in the end, but it really suited her, and it was great fun trying all the different styles.

Or if TK Maxx isn't for you, can you try a department store, again so there are a range of styles to try on?

There are 13 year olds and 13 year olds, but I don't know any that would be seen dead in something designed for a middle aged woman or a five year old, it's a really tricky age isn't it.

Personally I'd see if she will go for a jumpsuit that she likes, and a fluffy cardy or jacket, and some flats, she needs to be comfortable and feel like herself so a level up on what she normally wears, or she will feel like she's in fancy dress and have a rotten time.

My daughter has this one shown in one of the links above. https://www.axparis.com/products/black-and-blush-floral-print-2-in-1-midi-dress

I got it from New look not from there. It's gorgeous on her grown up but not revealing. She's disabled so I don't buy her clothes that sexualise her. She wears a shrug with her's. It's usually warm in the venue so she doesn't have it on much.

Mango have a teen collection which has lots of lovely things https://shop.mango.com/gb/teena/dresses-and-jumpsuits_c21321422

This really annoys me with kids clothes. It's a nice dress but a teenager doesn't want to wear the same dress as a 5 year old.

It's a sticky age, unless you have one that's late maturing. Some of the dresses my DD (who is a couple of weeks away from 14) wouldn't have worn at 10, never mind 13, and she's very much on the prudish end of her peer group.

OP, try Coast, Monsoon, New Look, H&M, All Saints if you think you can stretch the budget - and be selective. She'll need to try things, as a lot of the time it comes down to how they fit on the body as to whether it's too 'grown up' or too 'childish'.

I wouldn't fight her over the black tights if she's comfortable in them, or maybe teach her the 'fake it' trick of heavier 'nude' tights then thinner or patterned darker ones over.

DD suggested these:

https://www.coastfashion.com/product/coast-julie-kuyath-bardot-fold-bodice-full-skirt-jacquard-dress_bcc05889?colour=black

https://www.monsoon.co.uk/zahra-velvet-tea-dress-red-6407420040.html

https://www.allsaints.com/women/sale/camila-broderie-asymmetric-hem-dress/W007DZ-4090.html

Mint velvet has some nice things in the sale. These are size 12:

https://mintvelvet.com/products/brown-puff-sleeve-mini-dress

https://mintvelvet.com/products/gracie-print-mini-dress-1

https://mintvelvet.com/products/khaki-textured-midi-dress

https://mintvelvet.com/products/pink-long-sleeve-midi-dress

These are lovely

I love the last all saints one but it's £140 and the belt doesn't come with it!! Doesn't look as good without the belt.

Have fun shopping with her.
I agree with buying the shoes first.
Little short black boots or black patient leather flats.
Then I would choose the dress. Long sleeves if not wearing a coat. She will know what she wants when she sees it. Bright or deep colour for winter or pastel. Dress or skirt and top.
Look at pictures on line. Try second hand shops - they often have lovely formal wear.
Maybe tights that have a fun pattern.
An up hair do or half up hair do with a clip, flower or band.
Remember the nail polish and makeup.
Can she borrow a pashmina, a coat, or cardigan?

Think jumpsuits are brilliant.

Flat shoes are fine anyway, so no need to bother with heels. Start as you mean to go on!

I agree with metallic shoes and accessories, like suggested above, for that age group.

I’d say jumpsuits would be good but for a wedding where it might not be easy to get to a toilet and then you’ve got to navigate pulling it down to wee, I wouldn’t put that pressure on a 13 year old! Factor in if she might have a period then and I’d be mortified! In fact, I’d avoid white/light coloured clothes for this wedding only because again periods and clothes.

The joys (or negatives) of trying to find 'black tie' dresses 3 or 4 times a year for theatre awards dos from age 9 onwards, I think. DD has developed a bit of an 'eye' but it is an expensive eye.

Age 9-10 was easy - floofy and sparkly from Monsoon, job done. We got away with Monsoon's older range for her again at 11 but she was still a tiny thing.

Everything after that has been really hard, because there's no range between 'leaving primary/little girl sparkly' and full on Prom, that isn't trending 'bridesmaid' or 'middle aged'.

Sometimes I'm grateful she's picky - some of the girls are in things that are MUCH too much too soon, for lack of a reasonable alternative, or that don't really fit the brief (although no-one cares that much) - sometimes my bank balance wishes she'd deal with tiny bits of lycra from Quiz!😂

My other suggestion would be to go very quirky or retro. A lot of alt/vintage clothing is a lot more forgiving and they 'get away' with it because they're 13.

I love the trousers with the sequin top. Perhaps she could have a different top for the ceremony and then wear the sequin top later on - just to make her feel even more special

As she usually wears jeans she might be more comfortable in trousers or a jumpsuit. At her age mine liked this urban outfitters jumpsuit for formal occasions https://www.urbanoutfitters.com/en-gb/shop/uo-sienna-velvet-jumpsuit?quantity=1- Its no longer available but perhaps something like this with a jewel coloured cardigan? https://www.shopcider.com/product/detail?pid=101113240&style_id=1154669&sku_id=1256551&currency=GBP&local=en&country=GB&utm_source=google_shopping&utm_campaign=pla-gb-cate-pants-all&link_id=5805f019db2a49529c9f3e490de533a6&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5PazrMvBgwMV9YpQBh25yQvjEAQYFCABEgJmIPD_BwE

Urban outfitters do have something similar as a dress in green that might work for her https://www.urbanoutfitters.com/en-gb/shop/archive-at-uo-bottle-green-madera-maxi-dress?category=dresses&color=030&type=REGULAR&quantity=1

Otherwise she might think about a long mesh or lace dress with a short underslip - it wouldn't be long and frumpy but would provide some leg coverage https://www.urbanoutfitters.com/en-gb/shop/uo-quartz-black-floral-flocked-mesh-midi-dress2?category=dresses&color=001&type=REGULAR&quantity=1

https://www.yumi.co.uk/mela-london-mela-green-sequin-tunic-dress-p16274
with black tights and patent shoes

I know she’s turned down skater dresses but this model has her colouring and skin tone and it really suits her https://www.yumi.co.uk/mela-london-mela-green-lace-skater-dress-p6196

What about some of the scamp and dude dresses? They aren't little child shapes, so won't look awkward on her body, which some of the more kids party dresses on this thread might, but they do have fun prints and colours? Black With Gold Foil Moon Star and Lightning Bolt Midi Dress – Scamp & Dude (scampanddude.com)

Velvet jumpsuit:

https://www.wolfandbadger.com/uk/ava-velvet-jumpsuit-emerald/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=-&adgroupid=&utm_content=&utm_term=&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAqNSsBhAvEiwAn_tmxVfack1ZnoATdAIipLAC-fU1X7WfiMxkoE2IDcEMrnfIuRf3supnlxoCbrIQAvD_BwE

https://www.johnlewis.com/yumi-velvet-wrap-bodice-jumpsuit-plum/p109611191?tmad=c&tmcampid=7&s_share=jlappios&size=12&_Y29tLmFwcGxlLlVJS2l0LmFjdGl2aXR5LkNvcHlUb1Bhc3RlYm9hcmQ=

https://www.next.co.uk/style/SU154054/Q76435#Q76435?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=organicshopping

https://www.frenchconnection.com/products/sula-velvet-short-sleeve-jumpsuit-dark-green?gad_source=4&gclid=CjwKCAiAqNSsBhAvEiwAn_tmxQ5g4ntHZKehggFWsqjRPaMJqtPgu4igZvXmkuiR6TdqMEd94f9WGxoCe6kQAvD_BwE

What about something like this. I think this length is best so try persuade her there: https://www.next.co.uk/style/ls261432/p35232#p35232