We receive so many emails and phone calls concerning how to know the best size girls dress is purchased for a flower girl dress or special occasion dress.  The answer is never a simple one.  While we have a system here we use with our own dresses for girls, other professionals may measure children or garments differently.

Our approach is to keep it as simple as possible.  Nowadays, not all moms and dads are familiar with measuring a wiggly child for a girls fancy dress.  Families simply do not sew or alter clothing as we did in past generations.

First of all, almost all of the dresses at  The Briar Patch  should have a link to a measurement chart.  Some new styles may be missing this link as we wait for programming to catch up with our over-eager marketing department.  Marketing loves to post new flower girl dresses and fancy dresses as fast as our buyers can approve them for the dress collection.  It is a compulsion.

Here is an example: 
Tiffany Blue Scrollwork Dress

If you click this link, after the item description, you will see a bright purple link reading "measurements"...click that link and you will go here:

Measurements

This is the measurement chart for either this dress in particular or all dresses made of a similar pattern cut from the same designer.  The measurements given are of the flower girl dress and not of the child meant to wear the dress.   This is important to understand, as the child must fit INTO the special occasion dress.  So, in the chest and waist, we suggest that the same measurements of your little girl be at least 1.5 to 2 inches smaller than the chest and waist measurements of the fancy dress given on the measurement chart.

Measure the chest directly under the arms and across the nipples (sorry to be so personal!).

Measure waist across the belly button or immediately below, all the way around.  Do not pull tight to pucker flesh.

In toddler children, the waist may be larger than the chest.

Now, find the size on the chart that best corresponds to your girl's current dress size.  We suggest starting at your child's current casual clothing size or dress size.

Dress sizes can come in an even size pattern scale or an extended size pattern scale.  At  The Briar Patch  we have several special occasion dresses in both pattern scales.  An even size pattern scale is one that uses only even numbers:  2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, through 16.  An extended pattern scale with have 2T, 3T, 4T, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14 through 16 (we have seen some variations such as 5T and 6X).  On an even size pattern scale, consider each even number size to include the odd size immediately prior, so a size 6 is actually a size 5-6.  This can sometimes cause confusion.

Once you find the right size, check chest and waist measurements.  Then, check the length.  THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.  Very seldom can you add length to a dress without the dress appearing altered.  We measure dress length from shoulder top to the hemline of the dress.  To compare the length to your girl's own measurement, hold the tape measure at the center top of one shoulder and let it drop, find the number on the tape measure that corresponds to the measurement chart length for the size you are investigating.  Now, if this is a fluffy dress, pull that tape measure out about 20 to 30 degrees.  The slope of the skirt as it flares from the body requires some of this length.   After all this, check where that tape measure is in comparison to her leg and the length of the dress.   A tea length dress should be mid calf (anywhere from one-half to three-quarters the distance from the bottom of the knee cap to the top of the ankle bone).  An ankle length dress should be right at the ankle.  Be sure you buy the size that accommodates her height, even if it means taking the dress in an inch or two in chest or waist.

Also, consider that many styles come with sashes, and often this can cinch in a flower girl dress prettily enough not to require professional alterations.