I purchased this dress for my 6 year old to wear to the Rennaisance Festival. It was quite a splurge for an event that I knew would require dragging the hem on the ground and possibly getting mud on it, but I did it anyway. Don't judge me.
First of all, let me say it's a gorgous gown. My daughter could not wait to put it on and paraded around the house in it. She looked very regal and was thrilled with the details. The fabric feels good to the touch; it's not scratchy or flimsy. The petticoats underneath are fluffy and soft. My daughter is very sensitive to texture and we did snip a little bit of the elastic in the sleeves because she didn't like the way that felt on her arms, but beyond that, it is perfect. The sleeves probably won't bother most children - she's just particular. I purchased a size five for my petite 6 year old, and it was the right length. For the festival, she wore rain boots underneath that gave her about an inch in height, and the hem did not touch the ground by about half an inch.
After the festival, it came home with a few stains (blue cotton candy spots, a hot cocoa dribble, and some dirt on the lower skirt/hem). I didn't want to put it in the washing machine because I was worried that the rose details and trim would come loose, so I hand washed the spots with stain removal and Dawn - Presto! The dress is as good as new. It is such excellent quality.
In short - I recommend this dress for princesses everywhere. :)
