Bridesmaids dresses for children (50s/Rockabilly)

Hey all, wonder if anyone had any ideas -  DB and I are going vintage, eclectic, for our wedding, with as many little handmade touches that we can.
I've decided in order to keep my mother placated I will give into her on a few pre-determined points Or I'll end up getting married in a white puffball in a church I have  no interest in.

One of her major insistences was that my nieces (9 and 10 at the time) would be bridesmaids, now I wasn't going to bother, I have a man of honour and that's enough, but it's an easy point to concede on as they're excited about it and hopefully it's going to help patch a gaping hole in my family involving my sister and my dad not speaking to each other

I'm going to be sporting Vivian of Holloway - http://www.vivienofholloway.com/

Does anyone know of similar places that do 50s/rockabilly style dresses for children, I'd really like something with a fun 50s print if possible and glittery mary janes or converses.
I'd also like them to be similar but not match (same style, different colour/print), if anyone has any ideas it will be most appreciated - thanks!

I don't really know of anywhere that would make things like that.  Perhaps you could try a costume (halloween-ish) shop?  I know some costumes are cheap and cheesy but there are a few places online that sell good quality things.  Just an idea...

Maybe you could source some vintage or vintage-inspired fabric (I like this site) and have a dressmaker make up dresses for the girls?

Those spring wedding dresses on their site are lovely!  Have you asked anyone at Vivian of Holloway if they have any ideas?

That is great!

I agree find someone to make the one you want out of the fabric you want.

My cousin wife's mom has a little store http://www.etsy.com/shop/petticoatpistol
It is in the states but YA never know.

My family also runs Atomic Tattoo and she has the shop Atomic Cherry - I am sure she can ship http://www.myspace.com/atomiccherryboutique

I dont think you may order from them BUT may give you some cute ideas ;-)

Thanks for all the replies - I'm not a "children" person, so not really sure where to look at the moment My sister said they were jumping up and down and excited about the idea but I don't know if they have "bridesmaid=princess" in their heads right now

One question is do you need to worry about colouring of fabrics as much when they're little? They're half indonesian like I am, but darker than me (lucky things, they're gorgeous)  here's a photo from a few years ago - http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/3517/neice.jpg
There's loads of colours I wouldn't wear, but I don't know if you need to worry about this when they're children (really, I know nothing about kids)

Maybe you could source some vintage or vintage-inspired fabric (I like this site) and have a dressmaker make up dresses for the girls?

That's a good idea I was going to do an Etsy trawl later, and perhaps do an alchemy request nearer the time with my own choice of fabric, I love the fabrics on that site, it's really what I'm looking for but maybe a bit brighter, I really like the quirky fabrics, cowboys and ice-creams and cards and cherries.

I also saw some nice stuff at the Cath Kidston store the other day, I don't know if something like this would be too cheesy, but my neices are so gorgeous I think they could rock it - http://www.cathkidston.co.uk/p-11699-cath-kidston-strawberry-blue-fabric.aspx
http://www.cathkidston.co.uk/p-14296-cath-kidston-cherry-fabric.aspx

That is great!

I agree find someone to make the one you want out of the fabric you want.

My cousin wife's mom has a little store http://www.etsy.com/shop/petticoatpistol
It is in the states but YA never know.

My family also runs Atomic Tattoo and she has the shop Atomic Cherry - I am sure she can ship http://www.myspace.com/atomiccherryboutique

I dont think you may order from them BUT may give you some cute ideas ;-)

Oh that's totally awesome! My DB's family (and DB) are from Austin So I can always get them to bring anything from the US over when they come, what cool stores! 


I'm actually looking at this (without cape) but haven't seen it in person, I may be better off with the duchess satin as it's less shiny-shiny or possibly  not white at all, I'm not sold on the idea of white.
http://www.vivienofholloway.com/Special-Occasions/1950s-Halterneck-White-Satin-Dress-with-bolero.html at the moment.


BUaS, I know what you mean and thanks as it's something I hadn't thought of, I'll have a look at Angels and see what they have, I worry about the whole thing moving from Vintage-Inspired to "THEME" wedding (yuck!) though

I wouldn't worry about colours, to be honest. I think they'll look gorgeous in anything you choose. I love the Cath Kidston cherry fabric!

I was going to suggest Cath Kidston fabric but you beat me to it!

Oh my goodness.  I have never heard of Vivien of Holloway but those dresses are gorgeous!  I am definitely going to be stopping by their shop in the future

I am sooo jealous that you are going vintage. If I ever dare tie the knot again, that is what I want to do.

I think Etsy may be your friend. As you know, there are loads of folks doing the 50s and rockabilly thing there so they might be interested in doing kids' stuff, too.

I am sooo jealous that you are going vintage. If I ever dare tie the knot again, that is what I want to do.

I think Etsy may be your friend. As you know, there are loads of folks doing the 50s and rockabilly thing there so they might be interested in doing kids' stuff, too.

heh heh, we just want a fun silly day, registry office, London routemaster, 50s bowling alley, milkshakes, punch card wedding invitations (http://www.etsy.com/listing/38829007/punch-card-wedding-invitation), retro sweets, bunting, etc.


I think Etsy's a great idea, I just worry about the quality on Etsy as it varies so greatly, there's some amazing seamstresses on there, and some, let's face it, some godawful ones! If anyone has a recommendation on Etsy, that would be great

We didn't have a retro wedding - more a traditional English country wedding. But we did have gorgeous bunting and big glass bowls of retro sweets!

heh heh, we just want a fun silly day, registry office, London routemaster, 50s bowling alley, milkshakes, punch card wedding invitations (http://www.etsy.com/listing/38829007/punch-card-wedding-invitation), retro sweets, bunting, etc.

Hehehe that's great!!!!

You can go ask the Offbeat Bride Tribe too- they're all up on their 50s/rockabilly stuff 

Okay I think this is sorted now, as I'm looking for a dressmaker. My mother and I had a "talk" as she believed she was picking out the bridesmaid dresses for my nieces (seriously, wtf?) but we've compromised - I'm happy for her to pay for them,  but I get to pick  them out (the best type of compromise!)  I just have to watch her now, because she can be sneaky. She picked out a first holy communion dress for my eldest niece and bought it before my sister had a chance to buy one last year. My sister was quite annoyed, but couldn't do much about it.

Anyway, enough of my mother trauma - next thing (thanks Ladies!) does anyone know where you can get retro lollipops, the giant Hammond's candy style ones in the UK?
I want the girls to carry bouquets made from lollipops and ribbons - this is the kind I mean
http://www.hammondscandies.com/peppermint-lollipop-p-187.html

Think that's a bridge too far? Can't tell anymore!

Think that's a bridge too far? Can't tell anymore!

Awesome! It's fantastic!!!!!

Try here here and here