Antique lace appliqués detail the silk bodice and cascade down the skirt of a tea-length dress. Five layers of gathered tulle create a voluminous A-line silhouette.

MOMS AND DADS: This is one of those times when I really want to know what YOU think!

I heard a story this week from a friend, a teacher at a Catholic elementary school, about current trends in First Communion fashion. My friend made the point—correctly, it seems to me—that the significance of this holy occasion has been dwarfed in recent years by an emphasis on social trends and styles.