"Dress to impress" dress code for 9 year old girl

[HornungTheHelpful]

My niece has to go to a "dress to impress" party for her posh 9 year old cohort. She is struggling a little at school at the moment and I would like to send her an outfit. Any ideas? She is very blonde and pale.

Cropped tops for nine year olds 😢

That's so sad that just a few got the memo.

All guests should have been welcomed and included equally. How rude!

Could be Roblox "dress to impress'? I've never seen the show but the game has the same name but apparently is not the same. The game is massively popular with 9 year olds!

*That's so sad that just a few got the memo.

All guests should have been welcomed and included equally. How rude!*

I would have thought it was rude to invite a child to a party and then inform them or their parent that everyone at the party would be wearing a sequinned bomber jacket and that they should have one too.

They are the fashion for little girls.

Are you saying that people hosting birthday parties should issue a dress code of specific items?

To clarify, the “cropped” tops that my 9 year old and friends are wearing are waist length. So not stomach exposing. Just not long

I'm pretty stuck up regarding games and superficial stuff for kids but this party theme sound quite cool and original. It's a Roblox game and probably means an outfit that sparkly and fancy.

This looks cute
https://www.next.co.uk/style/su280799/b17627?gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADm_5UWbCyW7i3nnftaMXDZeOLdWz&gclid=Cj0KCQiAlsy5BhDeARIsABRc6Zt8Kvvd9wYYX4WA-5OBwXdVcd0kTTGbOqdpuZD0ulq086V7kPIdiO8aAiSAEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds#B17627

Nothing wrong in taking pride in your clothes.

I think party dresses at this age are pretty much a no. The theme may well be linked to Roblux but I would take it overall to mean - wear something you love and that feels special to you. In DD's group, that would vary from a favourite cropped top with baggy jeans and a cool jacket or it could mean sequins - often in the form of a skirt, top or jacket! It wouldn't usually include traditional children's party dresses. Next and the supermarkets all do a few sequin things usually so you can probably pick something up there quite easily if she'd like that.

Also, I disagree with people who say 9 year olds don't have a style. of course they do. So do 2 year olds frankly - the moment a child gets any say over their clothes, they are developing a style preference. It might well be that for your 3 year old boy, that style preference is "anything with spiderman on it" but it's still a style.

yes - agree. A few do turn up in really really cropped tops, but it's not the norm. DD and her buddy wore matching "cropped tops" on the weekend - they were wearing them with high waisted jeans and the "cropped top" just finished at the edge of the trousers. If they lifted their arms they probably exposed a small bit of their stomachs. Both were also wearing an overlayer - cardigan for DD and little jacket for her friend.

I’d say highly likely it’s re the Roblox game. My DD is obsessed with it too. In which case it’d be a case of choosing a theme and dressing like that. There’s some ideas of themes here: https://dti-dress-to-impress.fandom.com/wiki/Themes

We have checked. Apparently not!

So the consensus decision (9 yo, 2 aunts and Mum) is: black leopard print tulle skirt from Next, pink “Notorious RBG” t-shirt, sparkly tights , converse high tops and faux cropped leather jacket. It looks nice and she likes it 🙏

Thanks to everyone who came up with ideas and helpful suggestions e.g. Roblox

Sounds perfect, she will look beautiful and I hope the lovely outfit lifts her confidence.

What a lovely auntie you are.

That sounds perfect, OP! I'm sure your niece will feel super glam, hope she has a fab time! You sound like a lovely auntie 😊

Zara have some nice party bits which would suit.

oh I like that. it's quite grown up without being inappropriately so. depending on what she likes to wear, maybe with some quirky tights and sparkly DM style boots it would look fantastic. maybe match some nail varnish to the boots.
and the whole green and pink thing is taking off at the moment in the run up to Wicked, as a sort of run on from the black and pink from Wednesday.

My granddaughters would love this
https://www.monsoon.co.uk/reya-3d-scuba-bridesmaid-dress-pink-51800640146.html

Can you take her to somewhere with plenty of choice like next or h&m and let her choose?

My granddaughters would love this
https://www.monsoon.co.uk/reya-3d-scuba-bridesmaid-dress-pink-51800640146.html

At 9?

Sounds perfect.

Maybe vouchers to get her hair done up locally? I got nice jeans and top for my very self conscious daughter and got her hair styled professionally. They did it really well - it was party ish and not over the top.

modern equivalent of tweed and wellies

The modern equivalent of tweed and wellies is tweed and wellies. Which has also been quite a fashionable look at times.

Also, I disagree with people who say 9 year olds don't have a style.

They all vary immensely. DD1 had a style at 9, she had a style as a toddler!

DD2 was never very bothered about clothes and isn't much now at 15- she takes care of her appearance but is not so fashion oriented.

Glad you have something sorted, OP.

Why not ask you niece what she wants to wear?

@HornungTheHelpful just saw the below. Sounds great. I hope she has a fab time! You're a lovely aunty. X