Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Inappropriate dress for 15 yr old?

74 replies

Blewitt · 10/07/2019 08:35

My DD 15, yr 10, wants me to buy her this dress. She is going away to France with a friend and her family in the holidays which seems to be the reason for the purchase. Is this really the sort of thing girls her age wear? She is very well endowed but also has a bit of a tummy and despite my protestations that this both isn't suitable for a 15 year old and is unlikely to look good on her she does not seem to get it! ( I haven't said anything more on the figure front than I don't think it will look good on her, models Iike this make clothes look very different). Normally she wears very normal clothes btw. Jeans, t shirts etc. Does anyone have any ideas of something else that might be more appropriate that I could suggest for her please? (I did suggest she could buy it with her money and try it on and see but she didn't want to do that!).
www.prettylittlething.com/shape-red-slinky-ruched-mini-dress.html
Thank you!

OP posts:
WouldHAVEcouldHAVEshouldHAVE · 10/07/2019 08:37

My DD is nearly 14 and no freaking way would I let her wear that.

iwantavuvezela · 10/07/2019 08:38

You could tell her that it will be super hot to wear in France ( colour, fabric , long sleeves) - it does look a little 'old' for her - perhaps let her order it and try it on, sometimes with dresses like that your DD herself may have an opinion when on - or who knows it may look good.

Isadora2007 · 10/07/2019 08:38

It will be too hot and not flattering. Get her to buy a short playsuit.

WouldHAVEcouldHAVEshouldHAVE · 10/07/2019 08:39

New Look does grown up stuff that’s more suitable or Miss Selfridge?

Amy326 · 10/07/2019 08:40

Not appropriate for a 15 year old imo, I wouldn’t want my dd wearing that at 15! Just say no and that it’s too old for her, I wouldn’t make any comments about her body and say it won’t look good on her, that’s not very nice and at that age girls are so sensitive. The issue is that it’s too grown up, regardless of her figure.

Bloodymary · 10/07/2019 08:40

As the Mother of an almost 14year old I would definatly try to discourage re. this dress.
Easier said than done I know Wink

Teacakeandalatte · 10/07/2019 08:41

Forget if it looks good that would be up to her to decide and focus on if you think its appropriate for her age. If not say that.

Zoobluebabypink · 10/07/2019 08:43

That’s really not appropriate- that’s what they wear in clubs. Tell her to wait until then

Teacakeandalatte · 10/07/2019 08:44

If she is anything like my dd she has done some sort of quiz on her body shape and selected dress for hourglass figure then she liked the discription girrrl.

Sexnotgender · 10/07/2019 08:46

Mother to 15 year old daughter and no way would I let her wear that!

Oliversmumsarmy · 10/07/2019 08:50

I think the dress is horrific.

Dd buys a lot online (and returns a lot)

We have a huge laugh at the difference between what the dress looks like on the model and what the dress looks like on.
(Dd does work as a model sometimes so should fit the stuff that is sent)

This looks like one of those dresses that after 3 paces the hem line will have risen so much it will be akin to wearing a T shirt. Or is so short it won’t cover her crotch or so low cut that her boobs won’t be covered

Sometimes you have to spell out exactly why this dress won’t look good.

The model has boobs and a bum and a tiny waist.

If your dd has a bit of a tummy then with the ruching it is just going to accentuate it more and she will end up looking like a tomato.

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 10/07/2019 08:52

Don't mention her figure. I wouldn't make a big deal about it being "inappropriate" for her age either as basic psychology tells you that there s nothing more guaranteed to make her dig her heels in.

Just tell her that the dress is all wrong for a summer holiday in France where the emphasis will be on light, floaty, summery fabrics - she will look really out of place wearing that.

SnuggyBuggy · 10/07/2019 08:53

I don't know what you can do though. Chances are she won't want fashion advice from her mum. You could try pointing out how impartial it is, how do people walk in such a tight skirt without it riding up?

Livebythecoast · 10/07/2019 09:01

Mum to 15 year old girl and I wouldn't be comfortable with her wearing that personally. Maybe when she's 18 or older. I agree with @Isadora2007, playsuits are really in and look cute 🤗

SnuggyBuggy · 10/07/2019 09:01

Oh no, now it's in my adverts!

Blewitt · 10/07/2019 09:05

Glad everyone agrees with me, I was pretty shocked she even asked, then questioned whether I was being the baddy! I pointed out many faults with the dress including she wouldn't actually be able to wear a bra and it looked like something an adult would wear clubbing and could draw unwanted attention. I suggested she show it to bother grown up she trusts to see what they thought too.
I would like to show her some alternatives but I know whatever I suggest is now going to be "boring".

OP posts:
Awrite · 10/07/2019 09:07

My 13 year old loves that shop. As does just about every teenager round here. She's a skinny rake though so dresses look a bit different on her.

My rule is no dress where the cleavage is lower than the breasts so this dress would be a no-no.

There's loads of high necked dresses on the site. And much nicer colours too.

Hoppinggreen · 10/07/2019 09:07

I have an almost 15 year old and there’s no way I would allow her to wear it ( ignoring the fact that I worse similar at her age)
It also not appropriate for a summer holiday in France, too hot and most French teens are much more casual

MaybeDoctor · 10/07/2019 09:09

Put a pair of leggings and a nice vest under it and it will be smashing! Grin

No. It is horrific, she will boil and almost certainly receive unwanted attention.

Blewitt · 10/07/2019 09:30

Sorry snuggybuggy!!!
BTW I only suggested she buy it and try in the hope shw would see how wrong it is, not because I would actually let her wear it
Going to look for some alternatives, playsuit is a great idea.

OP posts:
Seeline · 10/07/2019 09:36

I agree the dress is not appropriate, but that site is very popular with my 15yo and her friends.
Also bright red seems to be very 'in' at the moment too. My DD had an awards do at her school last week - about 40 of them I think and there were at least 3 dresses in that colour.

Kenworthington · 10/07/2019 09:42

Well against the grain my dd (14) wears all the tiny things from that shop and looks incredible. But she’s a tiny size 4 with not much boob. I wouldn’t buy her that for summer hols though because she’d roast! All her friends dress the same. But they pair it with trainers and massive denim jackets or fleeces.

Hoppinggreen · 10/07/2019 09:42

Maybe that’s exactly what I say to DD when she shows me things on that site
“That would look lovely with a polo neck and a pair of leggings under it”
Cue eye roll!
Luckily DD isn’t very body confident ( no idea why, she’s stunning) but some of the things other girls in her year wear are quite extreme

Oliversmumsarmy · 10/07/2019 14:12

Personally it does look a bit old fashioned. Friend used to wear something similar in purple in the 80s and it was an awful design then

Definitely not right for a holiday in France.

She needs a much more casual approach to her evening wear

netflixlove · 10/07/2019 14:19

I'm 20 and I wouldn't even wear that! Definitely way to 'grown up' for a 15 year old. It looks cheap and like something a hooker would wear 😅

Swipe left for the next trending thread