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mommy4ever
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| Posted: Feb 03 2012 at 9:44am | IP Logged
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My 2 girls are receiving their sacraments this Easter Vigil. I have a dress for the youngest, it was a give away we received, beautiful for her first holy communion and confirmation.
However, I need something for dd12. She is not a girly girl. She nearly never ever wears a skirt. I was thinking, if I were to upcycle a white cable knit sweater, with a cute white blouse. Something like this http://mybusycraftlife.blogspot.com/2012/01/knit-sweater-to- skirt-upcycle.html but longer to the knee.
She is tall and very slender, I think it would look nice on her. Would it be appropriate? Sister really wants her in a dress, but the dresses we've tried need to be remade for her. She is 5'4 and under 90 lbs! She hasn't started developing so ladies clothing doesn't fit, and she's too long for girls. We're stuck..lol.
Would that be suitable? I'm open to other suggestions. I've resigned to making it for her to at least get a half decent fit.
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Mackfam
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I think that's a perfectly fine option! My oldest, when she was younger, was built a lot like this and dresses were nearly impossible to find for her height.
I think you could approach Sister with this practical challenge your daughter faces, and assure her that a skirt/blouse ensemble would look very pretty and put together for Easter Vigil. Having two white pieces (blouse and skirt) would look very, very lovely!
Throwing another option out for you that worked really well for us - I worked a lot with the ladies section in the thrift store for my dd. You can often find skirts or even skirt/suit pieces that you can work with. Discard the top (or re-thrift them), and take the skirt and adjust the waist so that it fits your daughter. You may find a lovely option at a local thrift store, and for just a couple of bucks, and little tuck here and there in the waistband, you can have a very lovely option. By the way, in adjusting the waist, I'd often just continue to sew down into the skirt fabric about 3 - 4 inches, making more of a dart than a tuck in the waistband. That seemed to make the fit a little more flattering.
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JennGM
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In our parish the children receiving the sacraments in the Easter Vigil are encouraged to wear white like for a First Communion celebration. It looks so lovely.
I'm not comfortable with sweater skirts, and I think it's a more casual and more adult (sensual) look than for a young preteen. I also would suggest something that covers the knees and a little more fullness, especially if she is so tall.
You could still do the option of two pieces, to find something that fits her better. Since her body proportions (torso and legs) are longer, having two pieces would be easier to fit.
Do you sew or have a friend that could sew something? Going that route could be easier to fit her, even in a dress. I'm imagining various silhouettes that could flatter her and seem age and Easter appropriate.
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mommy4ever
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| Posted: Feb 03 2012 at 10:00am | IP Logged
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Thank you Jen,
I am really liking the sweater skirt with a nice blouse. I have requested on Freecycle, hoping for a heavy cable knit one :) I think it would be something she'd wear again.
I will definitely scrounge through the goodwill store here too! I tend to forget about it. I may find the sweater there. And the blouse.... or even a sweater dress that can be remade.
I'll definitely be putting my courses to use with this one..lol.
Her older sister is easier to fit in someways, she's curvy.... but not this one. I expect she will be close to 6 feet by the time she's done growing. She hasn't had a growth spurt yet!
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mommy4ever
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| Posted: Feb 03 2012 at 10:06am | IP Logged
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JennGM wrote:
I'm not comfortable with sweater skirts, and I think it's a more casual and more adult (sensual) look than for a young preteen. I also would suggest something that covers the knees and a little more fullness, especially if she is so tall.
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Hmm... I'll watch for that. I didn't think of that. I've seen some really lovely ones that didn't strike me as sensual. One of the ladies that serves at Mass is always in them, and it looks nice.
I do sew, draft and alter, but that isn't really the issue. It's that she isn't comfortable in a dress... or skirt, so I'm trying to find a happy medium here. I want it special for her, so feeling awkward, isn't a good thing, she isn't overly confident to start with.
Maybe I'll play with the skirts.... try one and see how it looks, if it's too casual, we'll try something else.
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: Feb 03 2012 at 10:34am | IP Logged
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also look for gauchos/culottes/split-skirts if they're somewhat drapy they can appear very skirt-like and be more comfortable for those not comfortable in a skirt.
You might also looke at the leggings (capri length) to wear under a skirt.. it can be a very cute look.. more cute and less elegant but also helpful for those that aren't comfortable in a skirt.
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JennGM
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| Posted: Feb 03 2012 at 10:38am | IP Logged
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I'm really into vintage patterns. Your daughter might warm up to the idea of a dress working with her. My mom did this with my sisters. Picking the pattern, the material, working together.
For someone without hips or anything, the peplum at the waist gives a little definition. I was just searching for smaller bust sizes, 28 and 29. These are probably nothing like she would want, but I just was enjoying myself and thought I would post a few:
This one has a bit of length and fullness, with optional peplum. It's a bit lower than I would be comfortable with, though.
This one is too full, I think
simplicity! but still a little low
no frills, tailored but still feminine
very simple
There are others with a nice bolero to add. So much is back in style, as I was reading this post with a review of the latest dresses from Dior. Reminds me a bit of Grace Kelly's wedding dress in the movie High Society. LOVE that dress.
But in the current patterns, a simple princess seams is very unfrilly and feminine, without being too much of a dress. Using different fabric would make this simple and not frilly.
Or here. I think this is similar to my SIL's pattern. Her daughter didn't like dresses or frills either.
I wore skirts and dresses, but never liked pink, ruffles, lace, etc. Still don't.
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JennGM
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| Posted: Feb 03 2012 at 11:54am | IP Logged
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One more thought on the subject of not wanting to wear dresses or skirts. I always found as a girl that skirts with some fullness were easier to "play" and be more comfortable than the straight kind. I wouldn't be as mindful or obsessed with the skirt when I didn't have to think of it much. Straight is more restrictive.
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JodieLyn
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But dresses that are full can also make you feel less covered if the feeling of wearing pants makes you feel covered.. and straight skirts can make you feel more covered because you can feel them down your leg more. That's why I suggested the leggings above. It gives the feeling of being covered.
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JennGM
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JodieLyn wrote:
| But dresses that are full can also make you feel less covered if the feeling of wearing pants makes you feel covered.. and straight skirts can make you feel more covered because you can feel them down your leg more. That's why I suggested the leggings above. It gives the feeling of being covered. |
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Just speaking my experience with straight skirts. When I can't bend my legs, separate them easily, having to think about how high the skirt goes when I sit, can't cross my legs, etc. it's more uncomfortable to me.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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JodieLyn
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I agree Jenn.
But I know girls that don't like their legs feeling "naked" so the opposite works better for them.
Which is also why I like the full skirt over leggings.. takes care of feeling "naked" AND gives freedom of movement.
oh and a heavier weight skirt will also feel more substantial and not like it'll fly up at any moment.
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Betsy
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And out of the box option that I though of is making your daughter a gown like this or thisto wear over clothes she would be comfortable in.
It sounds like your are a good sewer, so I don't think that it would be too difficult or costly.
Just and idea.....
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mommy4ever
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| Posted: Feb 03 2012 at 2:18pm | IP Logged
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Thanks for the ideas, everyone.
Here is what I've come up with.
Betsy, the robe is a great idea, but I think she'd feel out of place, she wants to blend not stand out. I do think it would be great as a group though!
I love the leggings, I'm going to find some white ones for her.
This is what I'm thinking
Now for the dress, while I still like the sweater skirt, I'm going to do something different. It's evolved as I've typed.
It will be top and skirt, but will look like I dress(I hope). The shirred in the back for a nice fit. But more smooth and sleek in the front, possible princess cut front.
The skirt will have a high and wide stretch waistband that will be hidden under the top.
It will be lined, The skirt will be full, but brought under to have a bubble. She will have a wide sash with a bold white lace flower. I'll create a shrug for her as well from a white long sleeve t-shirt. Between the shrug and the leggings, she should feel covered enough, there'll be enough flounce and such in the dress to blend in with the other girls. I was thinking of matching white hair scarf with a flower, kinda retro like.
here is what I was inspired by:
But using white lace or fabric.
But using white, slightly narrower underneath so her hair can be worn down, and a flower from above on it. Or maybe a simple white band with the flower.
A little more tailored sans rosettes.
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4Real Forums : Domestic Church
Topic: Dress for Easter Vigil?
