Daytime concert dress ideas for petite DD age 18

[autumnhasbroken]

Hello, my DD has some concerts coming up as a piano soloist. I want to help her building a wardrobe as she is hoping to go to conservatoire so will have a fair few concerts to play in. The last concert she played in a cathedral she nearly died of cold which is not great for her playing.

Any idea for brands or websites that would be suitable? She is a size 6, about 5'3'' so can sometimes wear petite. We need something suitable for daytime (so not long evening dresses), ideally long sleeves and warm but not restricting her movement.

All the warmer stuff, ie velvet, looks really granny or suitable for a middle-aged cocktail party. I just got her this Jigsaw sparkle shirred dress on Vinted as thought it looked warm but she wasn't too keen and said it looked like something I would wear - I would look like a potato in it and she looked like a supermodel but I guess that is beside the point...

Would this be suitable for some concerts, OP?

https://www.johnlewis.com/adrianna-papell-a-line-jacquard-dress-navy-black/p115683983

Dd has a long sleeved midaxi velvet dress in burgundy for cooler weather and similar colours but shortsleeved and fuller skirt for warmer, she does lend towards granny style wise. Professional singer

She would probably like that will show her.

Honestly my dd wears thermals and jumpsuits.

you need a lot of coverage to get away with the thermals underneath and cathedrals are very very cold

I did suggest something like that but she pulled a face. I wonder if I look at getting some thermal shorts, now also on a mission for thermal underwear that isn't too horrendous.

Maybe I need to ask Dukyana to knit her something https://dukyana.com/Huge-sweaters

Would she think this one to be too old-fashioned, OP?

rixolondon.com/products/aerin-dress-micro-polka-dot-black

I've never seen a pianist wear anything that short. Probably not practical

That's too long

You must not have seen Yujia Wang playing!

Unfortunately agree and think the sleeves might get in the way.

Which shops does she like to buy her clothes in, OP?

I used to play in my teens, not like your DD plays, and I couldn’t have worn that length due to when I was seated.

Yes after seeing her Louboutins stopped worrying about heels and pedalling - she loves Yuja Wang!

Brandy Melville, Urban Outfitters. Lives in baggy jeans and strappy tops and big hoodies. For parties, very tight and glamorous bustier dresses with sequins. Not much in between.

Can she look herself?

Uniqlo has a good range of thermal layers / underwear , she might find these acceptable.

She liked and wore this before: https://www.next.co.uk/style/su849254/h98676

How about shirt dresses? Lands end have nice cord ones in petite at the moment. She can wear a layer with them more easily as well as the fabric is less sheer / clingy etc. than more dressed options.

https://www.nobodyschild.com/products/button-through-ls-midi-dress-26000279003

Too informal? Comes in petite

She will but is so busy and doesn't know where to look or what kind of dress would work. The dress I posted from Hobbs I spotted when we went shopping and she reluctantly tried on then loved it. It's quite difficult sometimes to imagine yourself in something different.

Good idea for masterclasses and auditions but not for performances

Yes bit casual but would defin suit her

Here’s a couple of black dresses that she could wear with opaque black thermal tights and heels.

https://www.frenchconnection.com/products/azra-black-twill-pleated-tuxedo-mini-dress-black

The fur cuffs on this one elevate this from being casual it so it might be suitable? Would be warm.

https://www.frenchconnection.com/products/moana-knit-faux-fur-cuff-dress-black-2026-aw

I’d also look at velvet because it will be warmer. Here’s a one from vinted that might be more age appropriate…

https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/10290293306-free-people-pink-mini-dress-velvet?referrer=catalog

If not buying from petite ranges you might need to have the sleeves tailored. I’d also check out Zara as their xs should be a good fit. Waiting a little while until November/December will probably give you more choice in petite occasion wear. Look at brands with good petite ranges like Never Fully Dressed, Oasis, Whistles, Reiss and Ro&Zo. ASOS and John Lewis tend to have lots of petite brands in one place.

Anna lapwood always seems to wear dark trousers with either a sparkly top or a black top with a sparkly jacket.