Help me find a wedding outfit for my 12 yo DD

[Doublebubblegum]

We are off to a wedding in April and my DD needs to find an outfit to wear. Really struggling to find something to suit her from the usual places.

She's very slim - no curves - and wears age 11-12 clothes, or maybe XXS from the adult range.

We are way past flouncy dresses and pink (occasion wear was much easier when she was a lot younger and happy wearing a frilly dress of the type you can find anywhere!) but struggling to find something she likes. She's very casual (baggy jeans and hoodies).

There are a few older girls at the wedding so she wants to look 'grown up' - any ideas of where to look?

She likes blue, and would prefer to cover her arms if possible.

https://www.next.co.uk/style/su767599/h59351

Second next they have some lovely ones at the minute

Just shown this to my 6 year old granddaughter and she said it’s awful it looks babyish 🤦🏻‍♀️

https://www.anthropologie.com/en-gb/shop/by-anthropologie-puff-sleeve-embroidered-midi-dress?color=040&curation_id=party-dresses-curation&curation_name=Occasionwear%20Dresses

At a similar age my daughter went for a jumpsuit
https://www.next.co.uk/style/SU974255/W97147

Would she prefer a jumpsuit over a dress?
https://www.johnlewis.com/reiss-kids-freya-dress-navy/p114028604

Would a woman's size 6 be too large? https://www.marksandspencer.com/velvet-3-4-sleeve-wrap-jumpsuit/p/clp23047551#intid=pid_pg1pip48g4r7c2%7Cprodflag_Online%20Only

www.marksandspencer.com/floral-jumpsuit/p/clp23046980#intid=pid_pg1pip48g4r11c4%7Cprodflag_Online%20Only

Was also coming to say jumpsuit?
Lace Front Pleated Occasion Jumpsuit (5-16yrs)
https://www.next.co.uk/style/SU822379/W94260

Try Lipsy or Monsoon kids have some things that might work.

https://www.next.co.uk/style/su822394/w94262

https://www.johnlewis.com/monsoon-kids-indi-frill-sleeve-midi-dress/navy/p112877031

a lot of 12 year olds are not going to want clothes from next in the children dept when there is a risk with the sizing that they will have the same dress as a 7 year old.

I am not encouraging you to biy from
here but get her to look on Shein for inspiration. Type in teen wedding guest. Then if she sees something she likes do google lens on it and see if you can get similar elsewhere.

Another possibility is a skirt, maybe something like this, and then a smartish top

https://www.yumi.co.uk/collections/skirts?filter.v.price.gte=&filter.v.price.lte=&filter.v.option.size=6+UK&filter.v.t.shopify.color-pattern=gid%3A%2F%2Fshopify%2FTaxonomyValue%2F2&sort_by=manual

www.next.co.uk/style/su822396/w94264

https://www.next.co.uk/style/su865455/v09423

Too boho?

Pretty www.next.co.uk/style/su828636/w97144

https://www.next.co.uk/style/su882197/y16961

My 12yo DD tried this on at the weekend for a wedding in April and it was her favourite so far https://www.next.co.uk/style/su812239/w64284

Look on vinted/ebay for No Added Sugar clothes in age 12. They are very well made and beautiful fabrics. DD was similar and hated girlie things but loved these dresses with boots or trainers.
https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/6104853234-girls-no-added-sugar-dress-age-12?referrer=catalog

On sale https://www.desigual.com/en_GB/25WGVK125029.html

That goes from age 4-13. Why do shops do this? A 13 year old doesn’t want to wear the same as a 4 year old.

'Age' is subjective. My - very tall, very broad shouldered - DD has been in teen sizes since she was 7/8 so I welcomed young styles going up into older ages.

What about something from JJsHouse?

https://www.jjshouse.com/uk/product/a-line-halter-asymmetrical-chiffon-junior-bridesmaid-dress-with-pleated-009260862-g260862?filterColor=navy_blue

https://www.jjshouse.com/uk/product/a-line-square-knee-length-chiffon-junior-bridesmaid-dress-009295836-g295836?filterColor=navy_blue

https://www.jjshouse.com/uk/product/a-line-scoop-knee-length-chiffon-junior-bridesmaid-dress-009300743-g300743?filterColor=navy_blue

https://www.jjshouse.com/uk/product/a-line-v-neck-asymmetrical-chiffon-junior-bridesmaid-dress-009308826-g308826?filterColor=navy_blue

lots of different styles, colours and cuts. They are more grown up in style but still have modest necklines, when we find cut can be an issue in many more 'adult' styles.
just a few options shown above in blue but there are plenty more. And the quality is excellent.

https://www.jjshouse.com/uk/product/a-line-cowl-asymmetrical-chiffon-junior-bridesmaid-dress-009308832-g308832?filterColor=navy_blue

And another with more shoulder coverage..
.
www.jjshouse.com/uk/product/a-line-scoop-knee-length-satin-lace-junior-bridesmaid-dress-009308818-g308818?filterColor=dark_navy

This is gorgeous for a 12 year old

Really, even with the backless bit?