Who can resist the festive look of girls' and toddler Christmas dresses? The joy is short-lived, however, when you consider how little each dress is worn each year. Make good use of your budget and get the dress of your little girl’s dreams with these tips.
Buy Second-Hand
By their very nature, Christmas party dresses are a fleeting part of any girl’s wardrobe. Especially when children are small, an adorable velvet dress that graced your holiday celebrations last year will barely fit over your child’s head this Christmas season. The good news: other parents face this dilemma, too, and are looking for new owners for their Christmas dress cast offs. Search the thrift stores and eBay and let your friends and relatives know you need some holiday threads for your little cherub this year. You may end up with a gorgeous Hanna Andersson outfit free of charge.
Don’t Sew? Visit Etsy
The fresh and funky site offers handmade items from hundreds of crafters, some of whom have a way with a sewing machine. Items are not mass produced on etsy and may sell out quickly, so it pays to visit the site often to find what you want. A recent search for “Christmas dress” turned up Snuggle Bug Baby Boutique’s Holiday Reindeer Onesie Dress. Available in sizes from 0-3 months to 18-24 months, the dress features a reindeer appliqué sewn onto a long- or short-sleeved onesie with a red corduroy skirt. Cost: $18; shipping is $1.50.
Shop The Children’s Place, Target, CWDKids
These mall, big-box and online retailers are looking to boost their holiday sales with early reductions on holiday wear. The Children’s Place online store offers a classic black, white and red jumper that sports a festive red velvet blow. The dress is fully lined with a hidden zipper enclosure. Online, only size 3T is available ($11.99, $5 shipping); check your local stores for other sizes.
Target’s Internet store sells a wide range of pretty Christmas party dresses, all below $25. For $19.99, your princess in a short sleeve slip-on dress with stretch black top and swirling full cream and gold skirt, sizes 4-6X. Target regularly offers free shipping deals for a minimum purchase.
CWDKids
CWDKids’ motto is “dressing kids like kids,” and their catalog live up to the saying with classic, well-made clothing for children. While some of their Christmas dresses by designer such as Ralph Lauren are a little pricey, you can find a few bargains. On sale is snowflake dress with an empire waist and an all-cotton long-sleeved red top. The green print skirt has a touch of spandex. Price: $19.99, shipping is $5.95.
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