What does your tween DD wear for "dressy" occasions?

[WitMom]

DD1 (almost 9) needs practically a whole new wardrobe for fall. I can manage semi-okay for casual wear, but dressier clothes options are killing me. I need some outfits that are appropriate for church and nicer outings (like a family anniversary party)....that sort of thing. Everything is too old or too babyish or too tacky. Help!

[Twoboos]

We went through this in the spring. I hit so many stores (Macy's, Gap, LE, Gymbo, more I am forgetting) and was surprised and disappointed that there was nothing out there. Trashy cuts, cheap polyester fabric... it was all awful.

I ended up with a couple of dresses from JCP. They were cotton so not that terrible cheapo fabric. A couple had shrugs/little sweaters. But I had to really search there. They were the only dresses I would actually buy.

You might want to try Crazy 8. I managed to find dresses there that weren't too bad for the first day of school. Got this one for DD1 (almost 10yo) and she loves it. Also cute with a cardi.
http://www.crazy8.com/shop/dept_item.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524446003893&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302775445&bmUID=1379335903802&productSizeSelected=0&fit_type=

GL, I feel your pain.

[westwoodmom04]

I have found good stuff at Boden, Hanna Anderson, Nordstrom and Lord & Taylor. Occasionally Chasing Fireflies, most of their stuff is overpriced but not always. Also this site, http://www.llbdshop.com/dresses/, expensive but they have decent sales codes throughout the season.

[mattiew]

It is hard!!! Crewcuts usually has a great selection of dresses and skirts/sweaters (J Crew for Kids), Boden, Lilly Pulitzer, and sometimes Gap and Lands End. I also like the brand Persnickety.

[Globetrotter]

At that age, Naartjie, Boden, some Hanna, Gap, and various Nordstrom Rack brands, and Justice if you're in the mood for sequins :) I also found a few nice options at Lands End.

Macys usually has a bunch of formal dresses, but we really didn't shop there for dd.

[squimp]

My 9-yo DD has outgrown Gymboree, Boden, Hanna, Tea and C8. Tea was a good option until she outgrew it. Target can have some cute dresses that aren't horrible. We like Nordstrom, Old Navy, Gap, Johnnie B and Crewcuts. Some LE and LLBean. Justice is too blingy for DD. Also some folks like H&M and Next for tweeners.

[meggie t]

No tweens here but one of my fave clothing lines, Busy Bees, has a fairly new tween girl collection, Miss B: http://www.missbtween.com/collections/dresses

Pricey but I usually wait for a sale.

[Green_Tea]

We have had very good luck at Nordstrom for dressier stuff. Lots of dresses in the $35-50 range, that we pair with cardis and ballet flats from Target.