For 12-year-old Australian Girls, few occasions are more exciting than the year 6 graduation ceremony. This year has been such a tough one for school kids and some may not have had a chance to party at all.
It is important to recognise that the completion of a school cycle is an important milestone. Whether you can have a traditional party or just a small family gathering, important occasions call for a lovely new frock.
Many parents might agree that 12-year-old girls aren’t exactly the easiest to please when it comes to fashion selections. My own twelve-year-old is not!
Girls around that age also differ a lot in body type. Whilst some of them will fit into (smaller) adult sizes, others still need kids sizes. Style of the dress is also a major issue and as kids grow, they certainly know what they like and want, leaving little room for parents to decide on their behalf!
Here we picked a few ‘formal dress’ styles we believe will be a major hit!
Recommendation: If you want to get a memorable gift for your girls, custom stickers are very suitable for pining on her new dress. Works great for customizing anything!
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Our 7 Top Picks for Year 6 Graduation Dresses (for 12-Year-Old Australian Girls)
Bcbgirls – Party Dress Mauve Glow
Nothing screams like party more than a sequin dress! They are shiny, joyous and stylish. What’s not to love? Despite the sophisticated sequin look, this is an easy-to-wear, fully lined, straight shaped dress. The Mauve Glow colour is similar to an iPhone rose-gold! This dress comes in ‘youth’ (kids) size 10-16. We love this option by Bcbgirls.
Esther & Co. Date Dress (Black)
Girls can never go wrong with a little black dress. It can be a bit of shock to see them in black looking sooooo grown-up, but the famous LBD is always a stylish and classic option. It can be easily accessorised with any colour or style of shoes and jewellery. This straight one-shoulder style LBD from Esther & Co. is a simple cut that has been around for generations. This is adult size dress would suit girls who are already wearing adult sizes and are quite tall. And let’s face it, it would be perfect for a year 12 formal.
Linen Frill Wrap Dress by Seed – Tumeric
Seed Heritage is a wonderful option for teen girls. You are always sure to find a suitable option. This wrap dress is a timeless piece and this tumeric yellow style by Seed is just gorgeous. This romantic linen dress can be used on many different occasions: from the school formal to the family gathering. It will go well as it is but can be worn with a cardigan. This one is suitable for girls who are wearing teen sizes.
Floral Poplin Dress by Seed Heritage
If black is not your daughter’s thing, this lovely floral dress by Seed with slightly puffed sleeves (yes, I am an Anne of Green Gables tragic!) for a stylish option. The lightweight fabric is perfect for the Australian summer. This style is quite easy to dress up (with a pair of fancy shoes) or down (with a pair of sneakers or flats). This dress comes in teen sizes 8-16.
Ally Fashion Floral Organza Dress
For girls who prefer shorter styles but still like a bit of colour, the Floral Organza dress from Ally Fashion is a great option. This style is slightly more sophisticated than others and will go well for more formal occasions too. Having said that, you can dress this down with a pair of flat sandals. This is an adult size dress, although is quite a ‘petit’ shape that will look gorgeous. This dress could also be a lovely year twelve graduation dress for teenagers.
Bcbgirls Jumpsuit Rose Petal
Is your girl more like a shorts and pants type? Mine is and rightly so. They are often much more comfortable and they make it easy to move around. A gorgeous jumpsuit is a great alternative for those who are not big fans of dresses! And this one from Bcbgirls is just adorable and can be dressed up (with fancy shiny sandals) or down (with sneakers).
Babydoll Dress by Seed Heritage
For another black dress option that combines the best of two worlds: effortless comfort and style, you can’t go past this babydoll dress from Seed Heritage. Again, this style can be dressed up (with fancy shiny sandals) or down (with sneakers or flats).
What To Consider Before Purchasing a Year 6 Graduation Dress
Before making a purchase, especially for something as memorable as a year 6 graduation ceremony, there are many crucial factors to consider first.
Here are the most important considerations to think about before buying your 12-year-old her graduation gown:
The Style of The Girl Who Will Wear The Dress
First and foremost we are talking about 12-year-old girls here. Not exactly the easiest to predict when it comes to fashion design. At such a young and magical age, trends come and go and so does your girl’s interest.So make sure you are on the same page as to what she actually wants to wear for her graduation. And, for that matter, make sure that what you’re shopping for is in accordance with any dress code her school may have in place for the event.
Dress Materials
The dress material is perhaps the most important thing to consider before buying any piece of clothing. Your girl’s graduation dress should be made of comfortable and breathable material due to the length of the event. Aside from that, you and your girl should agree on what sort of material is best.
Cotton, polyester, or a mix of the two are probably the best materials for an occasion such as year 6 graduation. That said, you should by no means avoid picking up something made of corduroy or silk if it matches her style.
Quality of Seams and Stitching
The stitching in dresses is obviously important. The higher the quality, the better. And when it comes to a graduation gown, every stitch and every seam should be flawless. Further, if your girl is the type who likes lace, fringe, or shiny aesthetics like rhinestones or sequins, quality stitching is even more important.
All things considered, spending a little extra for a dress with superior seams and stitching is really a no-brainer for an occasion like this. After all, you’ll want your girl to feel her best on her special day. She will remember it for a lifetime, and so will you!
Size Differences
While shopping online, keep in mind that if you purchase a dress from somewhere outside of Australia, the size is more than likely not going to match the size you are expecting. For her sake, be sure to take this into consideration. The last thing you want to do is stress her out because you purchased a dress that looks great but doesn’t fit her.
You can always compare dress sizes by running a quick google search.
Return Policy (with Warranty or Guarantee)
Guarantees and return policies are also crucial factors when purchasing a dress for such an occasion, especially if you are spending more than you would on a typical piece of clothing. Dresses with warranties, guarantees, and no-hassle return policies tend to be the highest quality (which is why their manufacturers have no problem vouching for them in the form of a warranty or guarantee).
Budget
The price of your 12-year-old’s graduation dress shouldn’t break the bank. At any rate, dresses range from as little as a few dollars to as much as several hundred. So whatever budget you’d have in mind, you should have no problem finding a fashionable, and comfortable, graduation dress with a change to spare at the cash register.
Selecting the Right Dress for Your Year 6 Graduate
Choosing the best dress for your year 6 graduate is as easy as knowing your child, and simply communicating clearly. This is her big day or night, and her dress is an item that will both empower her with confidence at the moment and stand out in her memory for the rest of her life!
