Communion frock time

EIGHT-year-old girls across Clare are preparing to walk down the aisle over the next few weeks to receive their First Holy Communion and will be putting the final touches to their look for the big day.

The traditional First Holy Communion dress hasn’t changed much over the years with just some minor changes in style and cut.
Kathy McMahon outlines what’s on trend for this year.
“The dresses themselves change each year but in the last 10 years, the dresses are defined by being more gathered at the waist and also at the side, which is a relatively new look. The A-line style is still popular and suits all shapes and sizes. The more classic dress is in and we’ve seen a move from sequinned and embellished dresses. Equally, hoops have gone out of fashion as all of the dresses are coming into us with netting and tulle,” Kathy explained.
The majority of dresses currently on the market are white satin, which is a move away from the raw silk cream dresses of old.
A number of must-haves accompany each communion dress and among these is a bolero jacket or coat. The majority of the dresses come with a short sleeve bolero with matching details to the dress.Alternatively with some dresses, a new development is a full-length chiffon coat. Meanwhile, other styles of communion dress offer capped sleeves. A matching satin satchel is also a popular item to complement the outfit.
Other additions include satin gloves and matching umbrellas/parasols.
Matching white strapped satin shoes with complementing patterns and a small heel are offset with white frilled socks. Topping the ensemble off is this year’s must-have accessory, the tiara. While veils are slowly creeping back in again, tiaras are still the most popular item to complete the look.
Once you’ve found the perfect dress, Kathy explains you also need to ensure you have the perfect fit.
“When they find the right dress, it is important that when they go to the church that it is fitting right. The majority of the dresses are easily altered and usually involve either being taken in or let out under the arms,” she stressed.
How to wear hair is the next step and a variety of options are popular, with many girls going for leaving their hair down, some opting for soft curls or even up styles which incorporate their tiara or headpiece.