Can YOU tell which dress costs just €35...
And which one costs EIGHT times that?
It’s First Communion season, but as our style editor Grace Cahill proves, you don’t have to spend the earth dressing up your little darling...
SAnd there is no doubt that serious pressure is put on parents to spend, with some dresses costing up to €450 in small boutiques. As it is a very expensive time for many mums and dads, especially those with big families, it can help to plan and be more savvy and frugal — shopping around during sales season, recycling the same dress or nabbing a budget buy for a fraction of the cost.
Niamh McDonnell, a teacher from Dunboyne, Co. Meath, is already planning for seven-year-old Anna Beth, who will make her First Communion next year.
Niamh says: ‘We cannot go into Dunnes or Debenhams without looking for the biggest religious celebrations in Ireland — with some families even forking up to €1,000 on the special day. CHOOL has wrapped up for the Easter holidays, which means the countdown is well and truly on for First Communion season. It’s still one of the
dress. There are so many different styles but luckily she’s picked out a Paul Costelloe design from Dunnes.
‘I’ll be looking out for it in the sales or hoping a similar dress comes back next year.’
Along with dress costs pressure to organise festivities after the church ceremony, to include food, a cake, decorations, a bouncy castle and, Niamh says, ‘an outfit to wear for the party, because most children take their dress or suit off to play.’
So it’s important to plan ahead. ‘As a lone parent there’s huge expense, so to keep the cost down I’ll be eyeing up the sales,’ Niamh adds.
Designer Paul Costelloe’s Dunnes Stores collections for First Communion often sell out months in advance.
His satin appliqué and lace styles range from €80 to €100 while accessories — veils, headpieces, shoes and boleros — start from €20. Another High Street favourite is John Rocha who designs a concession for Debenhams. His pearl and beaded textured lace styles are a big hit with little ones and start at €100 to €120.
In department store Arnotts, prices range from €125 to €345.
At the higher end of the spectrum are boutiques. Former Harvey Nichols buyer Francesca Macari and owner of Petit on Merrion Road says First Communion packages are tailored to every customer and cost anywhere from €195 to €550.
The higher price here reflects the whole experience: children can have several fittings and are invited to come into the shop, which is decked out in glittering decor in its fitting area.
‘We have dresses to cater to every budget. Customers can spend anywhere from €200 to €500,’ Macari says.
Styles vary from simple ivory ballet lengths to more flamboyant ruffled, sequinned and heavily embroidered designs.
But if the thought of your child in cascading ruffles makes you uneasy, you’ll be glad to hear the trends are in fact shifting back to a more simple aesthetic and now Lidl is offering budget First Communion styles ranging from €35 to €7 for socks and tights.
The range includes three white ballet length dresses — all with a sleeveless satin top, tulle overlay bow (pictured), embellishment and floral embroidery.
‘We know it’s a really expensive time of year for parents,’ says Liam Casey, the German supermarket’s director in Ireland.
‘We’re delighted with such a stylish and high-quality edit at such an affordable prices.’
The store’s buying team has sourced a selection of styles from Danish brand Sevva, which Casey says are 50% cheaper.
Here, we road test both budget and high-end dresses to find out if you really can tell the difference...