You can choose one size up if your kid is plus size or husky. I have a 9 year old daughter soon and the dress fits great once we put it on. It's hard to put on a top because the bodice doesn't stretch. It's very long and thin, which really surprised me. The rest of the dress is very pretty. It is casual and comfortable and she can wear it on many occasions. The wash held up well. I wash and dry all my clothes at the highest temperatures. I noticed some pilling on the bodice. It's not very noticeable, but you can feel it more than you can see it.