You finally find a dress she loves. The colour is right, the style feels like her, and you can already picture her wearing it to upcoming special event. Then she tries it on. The straps slip, the bodice gaps or the hem is far too long. Suddenly, buying a dress comes with another job: finding someone to alter it.
For mums shopping for girls aged 10 to 14, this can feel all too familiar. Girls grow and develop at different rates, and a size label rarely tells the whole story. Finding a better fit from the beginning can save extra expense and help your daughter enjoy choosing her outfit.
Why the tween years can be tricky to shop for?
Two girls in the same year at school can need completely different fits. One might need extra length without extra room at the waist. Another might need more room through the chest but a shorter hem. Their preferences can be just as different.
Children’s styles can feel too young, while adult styles may have proportions or necklines that do not suit what she wants. Sizing up for length can leave the top too loose. Sizing down for the waist can make the dress too short.
None of this means there is anything wrong with her body. It means that particular dress is not the right fit. That is a message worth keeping at the centre of every shopping trip.
Why we created Sutton Sisters Australia?
Sutton Sisters Australia was created to help solve this frustrating gap. As a mum shopping for my own tween daughters, I wanted special occasion outfits that felt right for their age and reflected their personalities. Finding them was harder than it should have been.
Our focus is girls aged 10 to 14, with dresses and outfits for Year 6 graduation, sports awards, parties and other special occasions. We want to make it easier to find something she loves wearing, with a suitable fit from the start and less need to plan around alterations.
Every girl has her own proportions, so choosing the style and size carefully is still an important part of that process.
Different styles for different frames
Our Two Piece Effect Party Dresses were inspired by my own daughter. She is 10 and has a very petite frame. When we looked for dresses in her size, so many were tulle styles that felt too young for her. She wanted something that reflected her age and personality, even though she needed a smaller fit.
Our Two Piece Effect Party Dresses were designed with those petite girls in mind. The smaller fit suits petite frames, while the side cut-outs give the dresses a modern, playful look that feels right for their age.
Our Ruffle Hem Dresses tend to suit girls who have started developing earlier and may already be wearing a strapless bra.
For girls who fall somewhere between those fits, our High Low Dresses and Top and Skirt Sets are perfect options for them.
These are helpful starting points when browsing the collection. Her individual measurements and the size guide for each style will help you narrow down the best fit for her.
How to give yourself the best chance of a good fit?
Start with her current measurements. Check the measurements requested in the size guide for the particular style, rather than choosing purely by age or the size she wears in another brand. Chest or bust, waist, hips and garment length may all be relevant, depending on the design.
Read the guide carefully to see whether it refers to body measurements or garment measurements. If that is unclear, ask before ordering. A size guide is most useful when you know exactly what you are comparing.
Let her have a say
A dress can fit beautifully and still not feel like her. Some girls love a simple pastel dress. Others want bold colour, a playful print or a matching top and skirt set. Ask what she feels comfortable wearing and what she would be excited to choose.
Keep the conversation focused on how the clothes fit her. Saying “Let’s try another cut” can make the experience feel much kinder than suggesting she needs to fit a particular size.
Find her outfit with a little less guesswork
If you are looking for a girls’ dress that does not need altering, start with her measurements, her preferred style and the fit information for that specific outfit. Those details can help you avoid buying something that needs several changes before she can wear it.
Explore the Sutton Sisters Australia collection, and get in touch before ordering if you are unsure about a size or style. Tell us which outfit she loves and when her special occasion is, and we can talk through the options.
We want her to arrive at her celebration feeling comfortable, confident and happy to be herself.
suttonsistersaustralia.com | suttonsistersaustralia@outlook.com.au