Hanukkah Dresses for Girls: Blue, White and Warm Enough for December

The best Hanukkah dresses for girls are blue or white, easy to sit on the floor in, and have sleeves or room for a cardigan, because the first night falls in early December. This year Hanukkah begins at sundown on December 4, so here is how we would pick a dress for a baby, a toddler or a big girl, with real sizing and timing advice.

What to look for in Hanukkah dresses for girls

Most of the eight nights happen at home, at a grandparent's table or at the synagogue party. That means three things matter more than anything printed on the front.

• Color. Blue and white are the classic Hanukkah colors and look lovely next to the candlelight in photos. Light pink and purple work well too if she refuses blue.
• Sleeves near the menorah. Little arms reach for everything. A fitted sleeve or a puff sleeve stays clear of the candles better than wide, floaty fabric. Whatever she wears, keep an adult between her and the flame.
• Floor time. Dreidel is played on the rug. A full skirt she can kneel and spin in beats anything narrow or stiff.

One more practical note from our own kitchen: latke oil spatters. Put an apron or a big bib on her while the frying is going on, then take it off for the blessing and the pictures.

For babies: 0 to 24 months

For a first Hanukkah, keep it simple and soft. Our light blue embroidered baby romper dress comes in sizes 0-3 months through 18-24 months for $50. The romper shape means no skirt riding up while she crawls toward the dreidels, and the light blue reads as "Hanukkah" without a single menorah print.

Babies grow fast between ordering and the holiday. Choose by her height, not her age, and if she sits right between two sizes, go up. A slightly roomy dress over a white long-sleeve bodysuit looks sweet and adds warmth.

For toddlers and little girls: 12 months to 6 years

This is the age when she wants to twirl, and the dress has to survive a lot of it. Our blue puff sleeve V-back dress has puff sleeves, an open V-back and a full skirt. It comes in White, Pink, Light Pink, Blue and Purple, in sizes 12-18 months up to 12, for $60.

Blue is the obvious pick for Hanukkah, and white works if you want her to match a sibling in blue. For a cold evening, add white or navy tights and a short cardigan in a matching shade. Take the cardigan off for candle lighting so the sleeves stay neat in the photos.

Before the big night, try the dress on with the tights and shoes she will actually wear. A tutu-style skirt can sit differently over thick tights.

For big girls: ages 4 and up

Older girls often want something that feels grown-up for the synagogue party or a family dinner. Two of our dresses work well here.

When she wants long sleeves

The white lace long sleeve dress with a tulle skirt has a lace bodice with long sleeves and a layered tulle skirt. It comes in Pink, Light Pink, Wine, White, Red and Purple, in sizes 80cm to 160cm, for $65. These sizes go by height, so measure her standing against a wall in socks and compare to the size guide. White is the Hanukkah choice; Wine is lovely if she wants something richer for winter.

When she wants a dressier look

Our white lace and tulle V-back dress has a lace bodice, an open V-back and a white tulle skirt. It comes in US girls' sizes 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 for $80. For the cold walk to the party, add a fitted cardigan or a little shrug in blue or silver-grey. That gives you the blue-and-white look without needing a blue dress.

Still unsure between two sizes for a girl who is growing fast? Our girls holiday dress size guide walks through measuring her height and when to size up.

Matching sisters for the candle lighting

If you have more than one girl, color is the easiest way to match. Put the baby in the light blue romper, the middle girl in the blue puff sleeve dress and the oldest in white lace. They look like a set in the photo, but each one gets a dress that suits her age. If you would rather keep everyone in white, browse our white dresses for girls and add blue ribbons or hair bows.

When to order for Hanukkah

We are a small shop, and we would rather tell you straight: delivery takes 15 to 30 business days. With the first candle on December 4, ordering in the first days of November gives you the best chance of having the dress for the first night. A dress ordered later can still arrive in time for the last nights or a December party.

If it doesn't fit, returns are accepted within 30 days, as long as the dress is unworn with tags on. Have her try it on as soon as it arrives, not on the afternoon of the first night.

Shipping is free on every order, and first-time customers can use code WELCOME10 for 10% off their first order.