Choosing a First Communion dress, or any other First Communion outfit, comes down to three things: the shade of white, the size, and how freely she can move in church, at the table and during the photographs. At MaLuna, First Communion outfits come in white or ivory, and sizes are given as your child’s height in centimetres.
How do you choose a First Communion outfit, step by step?
There are four steps, and each one is covered further down this guide. The order matters: measure first, then pick the shade and the kind of outfit, and finish by checking the fit.
- Measure her height in centimetres: height sets the size, not age.
- Choose the shade: white or ivory.
- Choose the kind of outfit: a dress, a jumpsuit, a two-piece set or a trouser suit.
- Check the fit as she moves: she sits, kneels, stands up and raises her arms.
White or ivory: what is the difference?
Ivory is an off-white, and every product name gives the shade. No other names for white are used for First Communion outfits: the name ends in ‘white’ or ‘ivory’, as in ‘Luna First Communion dress · white’ or ‘Elora occasion dress · ivory’. For a particular version, the colour name and the photographs on its product page are the point of reference.
Both shades are intended for First Communion, which is why white and ivory outfits sit together in the First Communion category. Which of the two to choose is a decision for her and her family.
A shade is judged in daylight, by a window, not on a screen. Any white accessories she will wear on the day – shoes, tights, a hair ornament – are worth checking in the same light. The post ‘White or ivory? The two shades of a First Communion dress’ looks at the difference in more detail.
How do you find the right size?
Size follows her height in centimetres, not her age. She is therefore measured first, and the outfit is chosen afterwards.
The sizes on offer vary from style to style. Some styles come in single sizes, such as 140; others come in paired sizes, such as 140/146, where one size joins two neighbouring sizes from the single scale. The table below sets the single and paired scales side by side for heights from 128 to 164 cm, and each product page shows every size its style comes in, including any smaller or larger ones.
| Child’s height | Size on the single scale | Size on the paired scale |
|---|---|---|
| 128 cm | 128 | 128/134 |
| 134 cm | 134 | 128/134 |
| 140 cm | 140 | 140/146 |
| 146 cm | 146 | 140/146 |
| 152 cm | 152 | 152/158 |
| 158 cm | 158 | 152/158 |
| 164 cm | 164 | 164/170 |
What if her height falls between two sizes?
When her height sits between two sizes in the table, the rule in our size guide settles which one to choose. The same page explains how to measure her height. Why age is no measure of size is the subject of the post ‘First Communion dress sizes: height in centimetres, not age’.
Dress, jumpsuit, two-piece set or trouser suit?
A First Communion outfit need not be a dress: the First Communion category holds four kinds of outfit – a dress, a jumpsuit, a two-piece set and a trouser suit – all in white or ivory. Which to choose turns on what she can kneel in at church and sit in at the table with ease.
How do you read a product name?
Every MaLuna product name follows the same pattern: the style name, the occasion on every dress and on one jumpsuit, the kind of outfit and, after a dot, the colour. ‘First Communion’ is used for only some of the white and ivory dresses and for that one jumpsuit, ‘Beatrice First Communion jumpsuit · ivory’; every other dress is an ‘occasion dress’, including the white and ivory ones in the First Communion category.
The other jumpsuits, the two-piece sets and the trouser suits carry no occasion in their names, which is why the white set in the First Communion category is simply ‘Emi two-piece set · white’. Names carry no adjectives of praise either: the cut, the fabric and the details are described on the product page.
What matters on the day itself?
The outfit is chosen for the whole day rather than a single moment: the First Communion itself, the celebration afterwards and the photographs the family will look back on for years. The girl, not the outfit, is at the centre of the day, so an outfit is judged by what she will do in it.
In church she sits, kneels and stands; at the table she stays seated for a good while. Freedom of movement is what counts: nothing should pinch at the waist or under the arms, and the length should not get in the way when she kneels or climbs stairs.
How do you check the fit at home?
Try the outfit on at home, with the shoes and accessories she will wear on the day. Four simple tests are enough:
- Ask her to sit on a chair, kneel and stand up again, as she will in church.
- Ask her to raise her arms: nothing should pull or pinch at the waist or under the arms.
- Check the length on the stairs and when she kneels.
- Look at the outfit and its accessories together in daylight, by a window.
Where are MaLuna clothes sewn?
MaLuna clothes are sewn in Poland. Every style is sewn in production runs. How we work is described on our Sewn in Poland page.
Where else in the shop can you find First Communion outfits?
Every outfit in the First Communion category also appears under Weddings and celebrations, alongside styles in other colours. Choosing an outfit for a wedding or a family celebration is covered in a separate wedding guest guide.
Questions and answers
White or ivory: which shade should she wear for her First Communion?
Both shades are intended for First Communion, so the choice is up to her and her family. Ivory is an off-white, and the product name always gives the shade. The difference shows in daylight rather than on a screen.
How do I choose the size of a First Communion dress?
Measure her height first: sizes are given as your child’s height in centimetres. Age does not set the size, and if she falls between two sizes, the size guide explains which one to choose. Each product page lists the sizes its style comes in.
What is the difference between a First Communion dress and an occasion dress?
In MaLuna product names, ‘First Communion’ is used for only some of the white and ivory dresses, and every other dress is called an occasion dress. The First Communion category also includes occasion dresses in white and ivory.
Does a First Communion outfit have to be a dress?
No. The First Communion category also includes jumpsuits, a two-piece set and a trouser suit, each in white or ivory. The choice turns on what she can kneel and sit in with ease.
Could another girl wear the same outfit?
Yes, she could. Every style is sewn in production runs, so we do not promise that any outfit is one of a kind.
Related pages
Updated: 14 October 2026