just a thought re: Communion suits/dresses

[tasmin]

hi guys,

my lad is making his communion this year and i went out to pick out his suit.

i got one that was really lovely on him, but boy was i in for a shock!

the cost of his 3 peice suit is €495.
i kinda knew they where expencive, but heck a mans suit wouldnt cost that much...and at least if it did he would get to wear it again.
but the kids just dont want to wear these suits after the day is over.

which got me thinking.

wouldnt it be an good idea to have a communion section just for the months running up to the communion?

cause i am sure that there are loads of good suits and dresses going to waste in ppls wardrobes out there.
why not let someone else get the benifit of them?

rather then let them go to waste

cause i know there must loads of ppl who couldnt afford to pay this type of cash for a suit or dress.

just a thought.

let me know what you think.

tas

[fsovp101]

Good idea, it will save us a lot of money. Don't tell the kids the suit is used though.

Cheers,
Felipe

[tasmin]

i know what you mean....my lad would go mad if he thought his suit was secondhand.
but kids of that age wouldnt be aware of the fact that it was secondhand if it was sent to the cleaners and had the plastic still on it, or better still buy a suit\dress bag :-)

it would save an awful lot of money and hardship for some ppl.
for instance...my friend borrowed €1000 from the credit union for a dress for her girls communion last year....shes still for paying for it.

and would you believe she hasn't even kept the dress...she lent it to someone else and they never gave it back, which means that next year she'll be borrowing again for her other girl.

its an awful lot of money to some ppl.

all the best.
tas

[fsovp101]

Ouch!!! 1000 euro!!! My wallet has just had a heart attack.

Sometimes my wife buys clothes from the charities which are in very decent condition and as long as the children don't know where they came from they are fine. The problem is when they start growing up and then... its all about the tracksuits,... and in particular those Yankees...!

One of my boys is doing first communion next year so I am in!

Cheers,
Felipe

[tasmin]

i too have a teenager staying with me,
and everything is all about brand names.

a friend of mine who hadnt got a lot of money used to cut the tag,logo off the t.shirts and jeans and sew them on to the cheap clothes, her boy and girl, never knew this until the were in the late teens lol.
a cheap way to do it eh! :-)


tas

[erikaedithp]

I am agree with both of you, It's a very good way to save money and help people. My son did his communion and confirmation with the school uniform, the school thought that it is the better way to help the parent's pockets. But the day after they had to wear something nice for the photograph and it was very difficult to find something in a good price, everything in that time is very expensive!!, I am in.
Cheers

[Chris P]

That's a great idea. These items should go in the "Baby Items, Toys, and All Clothing" forum here:
http://www.jumbletown.ie/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=40

Regards
Chris P
Admin

[tudlytops]

I got mine from a charity shop for €10, used it for the day, got it cleaned and gave it back to the same charity shop. the outfit for a girl cost me a total of €65.

[marie085]

this is so true i myself am looking for a larger size communion dress at the min and i just cant get my hands on one. im sure plenty of people out there have them just going to waste

[mw100860]

We were all reared on hand-me-downs and so were my own kids. I very seldom buy new clothes for them; have a couple of good friends who keep me supplied. My kids have no problem with it, they just love getting a bag to rummage in. Its just another form of recycling.

[Merienne]

A very good idea!

I'm not Irish, but I've obviously seen the communion dresses and suits- very elaborate!
I was confirmed (communion equivalent) in my protestant home country when I was 15, and there we wore white gowns supplied by the church, much like the graduation gowns u see in films. I wore jeans and a t-shirt under mine...

When my mother was young though, confirmation was the time for the teenage boy's first suit, and a nice white dress (Back then made by dressmakers.) for the girls. Mum has told me many people didn't do the confirmation, purely because their parents couldn't afford the clothes.

It's such a shame when a tradition which can have a lot of meaning becomes an economical worry for parents.

So this is a very good initiative!

[TickTock]

I was confirmed (communion equivalent) in my protestant home country when I was 15, and there we wore white gowns, much like the graduation gowns u see in films. I wore jeans and a t-shirt under mine...

You and I have the same background. I was confirmed at 14 years of age in the sixties. My mum made my white dress and I also had a short veil which she stitched to a hairband which she covered in the same material as the dress. It wasn't the princess type of dress you see today, more an everyday style but in white. My brother got his first suit, shirt and tie and looked very smart. My own children were confirmed at 15 years of age and they just wore their school uniforms. We could never understand the 'tradition' of spending so much money. indeed we believed it was sinful. I believe some priests are trying to change things but it will be down to the parents in the end. I have noticed some dresses are becoming less puffy than the ones I saw a few years ago. This is a good idea for the forum.

[TanTan]

got my daughters communion dress, cardigan and matching shoes in dunnes stores two years ago, was in dunnes the other day their occasion wear (both lads and girls) in for sale again. I had a fur stole thingy that i bought for few euro in claires accessories.

whole outfit around €60-70 too, cant remember now...

Paying €100's for one day is complete and utter rubbish, my kids dress looked a million times better than some others who had little beleros or one kid who had a strappy number (very inappropriate).

[Eibhlin ni Sheambrai]

Hi there, who said he had to wear a suit? Usually kids wear a nice pair of slacks, shirt and maybe v-neck jumper, all of which could be got in dunnes or Penneys or M&S if you want to push the boat out.
I worked for many years with schools and parishes on both Communion and Confirmation teams and the debate about the clothes continues every year. Some schools choose school uniform for the ceremonies and then afterwards the child can have a new casual outfit for going out for lunch etc.
In Bray, where I used to work, all the parishes and schools use white robes which they hire for the day and they wear what they like underneath. Why buy something to wear for only one day. Important to keep in mind what the day is about and focus on that rather than clothes and money.

[Linn]

Hi there, who said he had to wear a suit? Usually kids wear a nice pair of slacks, shirt and maybe v-neck jumper, all of which could be got in dunnes or Penneys or M&S if you want to push the boat out.
I worked for many years with schools and parishes on both Communion and Confirmation teams and the debate about the clothes continues every year. Some schools choose school uniform for the ceremonies and then afterwards the child can have a new casual outfit for going out for lunch etc.
In Bray, where I used to work, all the parishes and schools use white robes which they hire for the day and they wear what they like underneath. Why buy something to wear for only one day. Important to keep in mind what the day is about and focus on that rather than clothes and money.
I totally agree with you Eibhlin. I dont see why people especially in the times we are in would pay so much money for a communion suit/dress for one day. My eldest wore slacks and a shirt & waist coat, my next wore a pair of jeans and a shirt,when my eldest daughter was making it i got her dress, cardigan, bag & gloves in the Dunnes stores sale for 36 euros and she looked just as good as anyone else. My 4 th child made hers last year and as she is a bigger build i had to look around a bit but i paid 90 euros ( which i think was expensive) for hers marked down from 300 euros. But i used her sisters umbrella and i borrowed a head dress, gloves and bag. Plus as someone has already mentioned charity shops are great for stuff for communion. people put the best of stuff in and all you need to do is get it cleaned. Also the accessories especially for a girl can be so expensive, so ask family members to help if you can. Like my childrens godfather or Godmother bought their shoes. Nans & grandads got beads or prayer books.

[Linn]

Also if you are on social welfare and you have a child making communion or confirmation you are entitaled to a grant from social welfare. you get a letter from the school your child is attending and you bring it to your local community welfare officer and they'll give you money. Im not exactly how much it is but every little helps.

[SLCB]

Marie085, I'd suggest Donedeal for the communion dress in the larger size, I know one of my cousins was selling her daughters dress there and it was a bigger size than the usual. As far as I know its long sold at this stage but its worth checking out.

[Leahsmam]

at least the boys can wear their clothes for communion the girls dresses dont really get used and they can be expensive my daughters will be in about 4 or 5 years time