Girls in pink tutus with white satin sashes . . .

Thank heavens for little girls - and not just because they grow up in the most delightful way. They also adore Christmas and the opportunities it provides for dressing up. In their company, only the most churlish would not succumb to seasonal goodwill.

Pretty party clothes for girls always abound at this time of year. Whatever about the other 11 months, in December decorative items become more a necessity than a luxury, especially for the pre-teens. There are lots of dresses, of course, and, like women's clothes right now, the best of them are heavy with beading and embroidery. Surfaces are encrusted with sequins and metallic thread, as every opportunity to enrich a dress has been exploited.

But whereas the grown-up versions tend to be bias-cut and form-hugging, dresses for little girls have an endearing, old-fashioned quality; they often look as though designed for the original 1937 Disney Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Their bodices are usually smocked and overstitched, the skirts flaring out in layers of tulle. Fake pearls drip from hems and tiny pieces of diamante are sewn onto the surface of the material. Excess is heaped upon excess to produce the finished product. This is fantasy dressing for all ages.

Charm abounds in such pieces. Not the most practical of clothes, they nonetheless give more pleasure - to the wearer and everyone who sees her - than anything else could. The same is true of all the many delightful accessories for young girls currently in stock. Here again, surface decoration is a constant feature, just in case the dresses being worn do not sufficiently busy already.

Shoes are coated with iridescent beads, bags are finished with an extra trim of velvet. From backpacks to slippers, there is a wealth of completely irresistible options around when buying wearable gifts for children - especially little girls. The only challenge facing shoppers will be resisting the temptation to buy the lot.