Bubble skirts have been high fashion for a little over a year now in the Prom & Wedding realms.

They’re here for Flower Girls now!

Bubble skirts are cute and trendy.  They are very youthful - ideal for Flower Girl dresses, recitals, Daddy-Daughter dances - really, most “dress up” occasions.

They come in a variety of styles, too.  They can be long (formal-length bubble skirts generally fall around the ankle) or tea length.  They can be single - or double bubble (I think that the double bubble is my favorite)!

Several have arrived - and a few more are coming - so be sure to check it out!

Pick-up skirts have been seen in Wedding fashion for a couple years now so it’s no surprise that they’re HOT for Flower Girls and pageants too.

It’s easy to see the appeal - pick up skirts are voluminous and feminine!

This year there is considerable variation in the way skirts are picked up - from full skirt to tucking across the top, across the bottom (like the red dress shown on the left here) or down the back only. 

Several of the companies we offer have wonderful pick-up skirt styles for young ladies!  These images are just two of the possibilities - and quite a few more are on their way in by the end of the month!

Today we’re going to talk about one of the perennial favorite dresses:

#SW-523 for Girls’ Sizes 2-14  & #SWB-i523T for Infant/Toddler Sizes

This dress covers a LOT of subjects all in one because it can be the PERFECT dress for so many occasions!

Not only that — it now comes in infant/toddler sizes.  What does this mean?  Flower Girls - and Sister Dresses - for girls of all ages to coordinate perfectly!  The infant/toddler version - #SWB-i523T - is also very popular as a Christening dress.

The tulle skirt on this dress is not the fly weight illusion you see in many - it is the ‘real deal’ tulle with lettuce-edge skirt in several layers.  Pearls are scattered over the satin bodice and the waistline is accented - front and back - with hand-rolled satin rosebuds.

In addition to a terrific dress for Flower Girls and First Communion - it has received RAVE REVIEWS at pageant fashion shows we have produced!  Don’t forget . . . it comes in white, ivory and PINK. 

If you love this dress for First Communion but need sleeves - jackets are available to add over top!

Dresses #SW-523 & SWB-i523T (the infant version) - a dress for all occasions!

We get this inquiry a couple of times a year.  A mother has been asked to dress her son as a flower girl complete with dress.  She’s usually concerned and asks us if this is normal.

And the answer is clear - no.

There are certain sects or interest groups who follow this tradition.  We suspect that it comes from the ancient tradition of sending a “decoy” down the aisle to attract evil spirits so the marriage is not cursed. 

But it is not common.  Not today. As most mothers ask us, “is this normal”?  No.

Boys certainly can participate in a wedding party!  Their roles include Ring Bearer, Jr. Groomsmen and Ushers.   They can also be called “Paiges”.  They dress like boys, though it can be short or long pants.

Does this mean you should refuse? No, the matter is entirely in your hands.  If you love the idea and the boy is willing, it’s entirely  your call.

But flower girls are typically girls. 

The subject of white dresses confuses many. 

It’s simple but relatively unknown that “whites” are not all the same!

We just had a call asking if a “white” flower girl dress will match the bride’s diamond white dress.  The answer?  It all depends.  What does it depend on?  The shade of the bride’s diamond white AND the shade of white of the flower girl dress she’s considering.  Is it bright white - or is it silk white, for instance?

We’ve discussed the subject of matching garments extensively here and throughout our websites.   You can find these discussions in the categories at right - they’re always here for your use.  It applies to white like any other color.

In short, to ‘match’ all garments must be ordered from the same manufacturer at the same time from the same dye lot. 

To coordinate, though, there’s a little more room for variation.

What shades of white are there?  We’ll name several but likely will miss something.  Why?  Because every company likes to come up with their own names for things.

• White a/k/a/ Bright/Brilliant White a/k/a Stark White
• Diamond White
• Candlelight
• Silk White  (or just silk fabric in white)
• Off-White
• Winter White
• Ivory
• Cream

These are all shades of “white” and tend to get deeper in shade as you decend the list.

The closer they are together on this list - the less likely they will look good together. 

When mixing bright whites and off-shades of white, the non-bright color will look dingy or even dirty against the bright white.  Very often it is the bride in the off-white shade; if a member of the wedding party is in bright white, that person is going to make the bride’s gown look dingy.

We recommend NEVER mixing bright whites with slight shades of off-white.  That includes candle light, silk white (silk is NEVER brilliant white and always looks dull against bright whites of other fibers), off-white, winter-white, etc.

Why?  Because the off-white shades are going to look dingy against the bright white.

Now, there may be some brides who WANT their maids to look dingy . . . but we won’t go there! 

The father away from each other, the better they can look together.  Combining very different shades looks “deliberate” and makes a fashion statement.  For instance?  Cream against bright white.  This can have a stunning effect just like chocolate on champagne (same color family but different shades).

Off-white shades look fabulous with the skin tones of many.  In fact, bright white can’t be worn well by a lot of people.

Coordinating which whites are best to use for your situation really does take a little effort and deliberation.  We recommend in a Wedding that it be the Bride who decides what shade is best on her — then everyone else’s garments are selected to compliment.  If she chooses bright white, then the wedding party should be in either bright white or color.  If the bride is in any shade of off-white, then the wedding party should be in off-whites - or color.

Perhaps a white or ivory dress with a colored sash simply isn’t in your plans for your wedding or other social event.  You absolutely have your heart set on COLOR dresses.

Then simply put - you will have to focus on COORDINATING colors - not ‘matching’.

Why?  We’ve discussed this at length previously about dye lots and fabric.  In short, if you don’t order all dresses from the same company at the same time from the same dye lot, they’re not going to match.  It doesn’t matter where you order them - that’s simply the way it happens.  That’s the nature of fabric and dying.

But you DO have options.  There are always options.

Coordinate colors instead of trying to match.  Do you have burgundy bride’s maid dresses?  Pink looks fantastic against burgundy. 

Navy?  Try coordinating with light blue.

Forest green?  Try a soft, lighter shade of green for the flower girl.

Same for the ring bearer’s accessories.

The reverse is true too, of course.

Another possibility is to go with the color of your flowers for the children.  What accent color is in your flowers?  You can use that color for the children in your wedding.  This approach can produce stunning photos; it can look totally color-coordinated and well planned.

We’re absolutely THRILLED to announce the arrival of the Elsie Mo Designs collection of Flower Girl, Miniature Brides and First Communion dresses!

These dresses received very favorable reviews from Moms of our models at our most recent photo shoot!  They are lovely:

• well made
• nicely designed
• good fabrics
• nicely priced — and –
• available VERY quickly!

Several styles - like the one you see here (ELM-305) - are perfect to coordinate wide age ranges such as Flower Girls and Junior Brides Maids or Big Sister/Little Sister.

Quite a few lovely styles are also available in Plus sizes for our extra-fluffly little lasses.

 AND - this line offers some SPECIALTY dresses like “Butterfly Kisses”.

Please let us know what you think!  You can leave your comments right here!  Click on Comments - and then it will instruct you how to log in.  You have to sign up first - then it will send you an email.  Once you have that, you can leave your opinions, ask questions, etc. whenever you’d like!

We really DO want to hear from you!

We’ve discussed several ideas on how to match/coordinate colors for your wedding party between your Bride’s Maids and Flower Girls now. 

Another tip for adding a sash in the color of your choice is to purchase very wide (2.5″) double-faced satin ribbon.  About 2.5 yards will make a lovely sash with bow on any dress that can take a sash.  Simple AND inexpensive.  You can change the color of sash on any dress instantly and as often as you want this way.  Ribbon can be purchased at any fabric store and many places on line.  Why double-faced?  It gives the perfect finish and has a bit more weight to hang better.  Cut the ends on an angle; if they fray, just trim them a little bit again.

The US Angels line of Flower Girl dresses has been a classic for years.

They did it again by launching two wonderful new styles:

• US-572
• US-583

We think that you’ll agree both of these dresses are classics too!

And as you can see from the photo here - they’re available in the HOTTEST colors — including Blush, Champagne and Chocolate!

As always - let us know what you think!  Just leave a Comment for us.

The following is a quote from Earnshaws Magazine July 2006 edition. 

“Being a flower girl is an exciting moment in any little fashionista’s life.  With options from short and sweet to long and sophisticated, today’s flower girls are no longer limited to wearing poufy replicas of the bride’s dress.

“You’re not going to see them in a mini-wedding gown; they will play off the bridal party’s look,” said Kim Sunshine, fashion editor of  The KNot, a bridal magazine and online resource. 

“When I look at the couture houses that are now showing in Milan, London, Paris and New York, I’m seeing a feeling for the more feminine styles.  Dresses are coming back in full force,” reported Leonard Given of Sarah Louise. 

For flower girl dressing, the basic premise is easy:  “You want them to look cute and pretty, and bein a beautiful dress,” said Julie Sabatino, founder of The Stylish Bride, a New York-based bridal style consultancy. ”

And here at The Perfect Pear - we have it all!  You’ll see that our Flower Girl Department is really three separate departments to help you find just the look you want for your wedding. 

If you want the Miniature/Junior Bride, we have the dresses! 

If you want a simple, sweet little flower girl dress in a myriad of colors, we have them too!  You can also find dresses for your Flower Girls to mirror the fashion of your Brides Maids.  In fact, you can now find your Brides Maids’ dresses here too!

If you have older girls who would be more suitable as a Junior Brides Maid, we have the perfect dresses.

And, if you have a wide age range, we have Sisters Dresses that come in styles from pre-toddler to 14 - even some 16!

It’s all about choices - lots and lots of choices - at Perfect Occasions by The Perfect Pear!