How Do I Select The Right Size Flower Girl Dress, Christening Gown or Communion Dress?

Ask Julie:
Advice and Tips for Online Communion Dress, Flower Girl Dress Ordering

Q: I’ve never ordered children’s clothing on the Internet, how do I measure to make sure I get the right size dress for my daughter?

A: I have found that the best way to measure properly is to measure a dress she owns that fits her well. Lay the dress down on a flat surface, measure across the chest and waist, and double the measurements to get the exact size she’ll need. For the length, the best way is to hang the dress on a hanger, and measure from the outside shoulder straight down to the hem. That is the way size charts are made. They give customers exact measurements, or as close as can be with variations of up to ½” of the measurements.

Little Girl Dresses.com: Great Customer Service, Fast Shipping

Great Customer Service

You've found the perfect flower girl dresses, you've placed your order and then... nothing. Do they have the dresses in your size.... today? When will your order ship? Can you even get a human being on the phone?

It does seem like customer service is a lost art these days. But there can be exceptions.

One of those exceptions appears to be Little Girl Dresses.com - an online retailer of children's formal wear. You don't have to take our word for it. Just visit their "About Us" page on their website and you'll see some amazing (and up-to-date!) feedback notes from their satisfied customers.

Some of these are for orders within the U.S., but, amazingly, there are quite a few from places around the globe like Ireland, the U.K., China and Australia. Little Girl Dresses.com filled their orders and these customers had their flower girl dresses, Communion dresses or Christening gowns in a matter of days (for foreign shipments) or, in one instance, in less than 24 hours for one lucky customer in the US.

Their secret is not shipping everything by Next Day Air... that would be cheating. Instead, Little Girl Dresses.com uses secret weapons called Doug and Mary and Julie. Real live people who counsel customers via the phone on proper dress sizing, and then they determine the optimal shipping method to get the order to the customer.

Apparently it's working. Customers around the world are happy. So is Little Girl Dresses.com since it just posted record sales of flower girl dresses and Communion dresses in the first quarter of 2007. Record sales ordinarily tax a retail business' resources and bottlenecks and shipment delays can occur. Not so for Little Girl Dresses.com.

Communion Dresses by Sweetie Pie

First Communion Dresses
One of the most beautiful Communion dresses that you'll see in the Heirloom Collection from Sweetie Pie at Little Girl Dresses is the SP194 in white.

This First Communion Dress has a scoop neckline peau satin bodice with embroidered motifs and cap sleeves. Organza skirt with five layers of satin ribbon. This dress is only offered in 'Tea' length sizes, and is available in the color white.

Find it at http://www.littlegirldresses.com/flower-girl-dress-first-communion-dress-in-white-peau-satin-and-organza-907.html. Call 1-866-239-1253 M-F 10am - 7pm.

What You Need to Know About Shopping Online for Flower Girl Dresses, Christening Gowns and Communion Dresses?

Ask Julie:
Flower Girl Dress and Communion Dress Shopping Advice
What should a bride or mother know about purchasing children's formal attire online?

You should start by demanding the best in every aspect of the transaction. Here are ten requirements for a good online store:

1. Fast and friendly response. Great customer service starts with a great attitude. Fast and friendly responses to e-mails and telephone calls are a must. Your online store should offer you personal consultations. Only purchase from an online store that offers great customer service.
   
2. Broad product selection. You should be able to choose from a variety of designers, styles and price ranges. Make sure that the online store is an authorized dealer for the designers they sell.
   
3. Online purchasing. Many bridal stores have web sites, but few offer online purchasing. A good online store should let you complete the shopping experience right then and there. Buy what you want when you want it.
   
4. An up-to-date, current web site. An online store should update information on a daily basis, continuously adding new dresses and gowns and eliminating those that are discontinued.
   
5. Easy searching. You should be able to easily find the item, style or designer you are looking for and have convenient access to different departments in the online store.
   
6. Product information. A picture of the gown isn't enough. Your online store should provide you with accurate product information like designers size charts, fabric and color charts that can help you make the right dress or gown purchase.
   
7. Guaranteed delivery time. Your online store should give you a guaranteed delivery date and should back that delivery date with a commitment.
   
8. Shipping quality. Your online store should carefully inspect every item shipped. Sometimes there are imperfections in the gown and a good online store will catch those imperfections and remedy the situation with the designer before they ship the gown to you.
   
9. Clear return and cancellation policies. Your online store should clearly provide you with their return and cancellation policies before you buy.
   
10. No hidden charges. The price shown may not be the true price of the gown after you learn about hidden charges. Some questionable online stores tell you about their add on charges for shipping, handling, insurance, etc. after you purchase. Confirm the total cost before you buy.
    

How do you find online stores that meet this criteria? Talk to others who have shopped online for Flower Girl Dresses, Communion Dresses, or Christening Gowns, or visit popular message boards to see other people's experiences. Or, simply visit Little Girl Dresses.com to see how they meet all of these qualities desirable in shopping online today for children's formal wear.

Adapted from "The Trend" January 25, 2006.