The Frill of It All Has Attraction for Everyone, Regardless of Age : Little girls put dresses to the twirl test, but parents use different guidelines. Easy-care fabrics and durability are a few.

Before the early teen years hit, most little girls enjoy wearing dainty dresses. What are today’s girls and their parents looking for when it comes to frills?

“Little girls want dresses that twirl,” says Carla Griffis, saleswoman at Children’s Dress Express in Yorba Linda.

Many girls put a dress to the twirl test, she says, noting that they’ll spin around the store to see how a dress does.

What do parents look for in girl’s dresses? Twirling ability aside, they want durability, says Sandi Carlson, manager of Children’s Exchange, a consignment store in Mission Viejo.

“Parents want high-quality dresses made with good fabric that are easy to care for,” she says, noting that today’s popular colors are purple and blue.

If you have a little girl to dress up, or know someone who does, you’ll want dresses that are pretty, yet durable. Here are several stores that offer a wide selection, mostly from sizes 0 to 14 .

Retail stores

* CHILDREN’S DRESS EXPRESS

If you’ve a wedding to attend, try outfitting your little girl in the Misty Rose by Jim Elliot. This knee-length black and white taffeta and velvet dress has a matching black felt hat ($25 for both).

Or for Sunday dress-up, put your little girl in the Sarah Kent, also by Jim Elliot. This burgundy and navy blue paisley print dress is 50% cotton and 50% polyester. It has an embellished collar with white designs and is knee length ($30).

For less formal occasions such as school, try the Jim Elliot’s Disorderly Kids dress. This black dress is covered with a bright floral pattern in fuchsia, purple and red. It has a knit bodice and cotton skirt and sleeves ($17).

18220 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda, (714) 996-9077.

* COTTON RAINBOW

This store carries dresses in a variety of colors which have white batik prints, such as stars, bows, hearts and stripes. All dresses are 100% cotton and preshrunk.

For holiday parties, put your little angel in a high-waisted, short-sleeved red dress covered in white bows ($36) and red 100% cotton leggings also with white bows ($15).

For a birthday party, try a drop waist yellow tank dress. This looks great covered with white tulips ($36) and a loose yellow white striped T-shirt ($15). For school, they have a high-waisted, long-sleeved jade dress covered with white stars ($36). Accent with white-starred jade socks ($5).

Fashion Island Newport Beach, (714) 720-1410.

* KIDS MART

For a winter wedding, try a Mrs. Smith’s Kids long-sleeved dress in a bright pastel-colored floral print with a bow in the back ($30). Or for Sunday dress-up, there is the Brooke Lindsay, a 100% cotton short-sleeved dress also in a floral print. The collar is trimmed in lace and a fuchsia bow is tied in back ($25). Finish the look with fuchsia tights ($3) and a velvet and pink headband ($4).

When it comes time to send your little girl off to school, put her in one of their Baby Doll Dresses by Thia. This 50% cotton, 50% polyester long-sleeved dress is navy blue with a floral print of purple, pink and green. The collar has dark pink lace trim and a dark pink ribbon ($15).

929 S. Brookhurst St., Anaheim, (714) 533-7611; Buena Park Mall, (714) 952-0475; 6876 Katella Ave., Cypress, (714) 892-9894; 18309 Brookhurst St., Fountain Valley, (714) 964-2045; 3208 E. Yorba Linda Blvd., Fullerton, (714) 996-9072; 1312 S. Harbor Blvd., Fullerton, (714) 526-1908; 12093 Brookhurst St., Garden Grove, (714) 534-1379; 3800 Barranca Parkway, Irvine, (714) 551-3590; Huntington Center, Huntington Beach, (714) 891-2449; 27281 S. La Paz Road, Laguna Niguel, (714) 831-8837; 23819 El Toro Road, Lake Forest, (714) 855-8244; The City, Orange, (714) 634-4164; 1421 W. Chapman Ave., Orange, (714) 978-7119; Mall of Orange (714) 637-3940; 31878 Del Obispo, San Juan Capistrano, (714) 240-0942; 3378 S. Bristol St., Santa Ana, (714) 545-8204; 2895 El Camino Real, Tustin, (714) 731-6118.

* MERVYN’S

For the coming cold weather, try a Jazz Kids solid lace dress with light pink lining. It’s made of rayon and is long-sleeved and knee length ($32).

Or for school, put your little girl into a KoKoMo Kid’s high-waisted knit dress. It comes in periwinkle blue with a floral design ($16).

For holiday parties, there is a PSSST! high-waisted, above-the-knee dress. This 100% rayon dress is lavender with floral designs. It has a ruffled baby doll style bottom, puffed sleeves and a ruffled high collar with a mauve rose on it ($32).

Anaheim Plaza, (714) 991-8880; 8100 E. Santa Ana Canyon Road, Anaheim Hills, (714) 283-8800; 10201 Valley View, Cypress, (714) 995-8003; 3204 E. Yorba Linda Blvd., Fullerton, (714) 996-8800; 202 W. Imperial Highway, Fullerton, (714) 992-1800; 13092 Harbor Blvd., Garden Grove, (714) 539-8090; 9811 Adams Ave., Huntington Beach, (714) 963-9731; Huntington Center, Huntington Beach, (714) 891-5151; 3960 Barranca Parkway, Irvine, (714) 551-8868; 24491 Alicia Parkway, Mission Viejo, (714) 380-0888 and 18182 Irvine Blvd., Tustin, (714) 838-8803.

Resale stores

In many children’s resale shops, you can find gently used, often name-brand dresses from 50% to 70% off the original price. Do a little browsing, and you’re likely to find unique garments you won’t see in retail stores.

*THE CAROUSEL

This store carries a wide variety of name-brand girl’s dresses that are in excellent condition, says saleswoman Laura Pederson.

Put your little girl in a knee-length all-cotton homemade dress. It’s aqua with white flowers, a white lace collar and has long sleeves with white cuffs ($15).

Or outfit your angel in a Gaby Original pastel dress. It’s all cotton and has a sewn-in white lace pinafore and short puffy sleeves. She’ll find it easy to twirl in this dress, thanks to a sewn-in slip that makes the dress look fluffy ($17).

For school, they have an Amy Too by Byer. This sailor-type dress is navy blue with a white collar and a black bow tie with gold buttons. The 50% cotton, 50% polyester dress has a full skirt ($18).

31681 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, (714) 496-8835.

* CHILDREN’S EXCHANGE

For the holidays, try this store’s Rare Edition dress. The black velvet below knee-length dress has puffy short sleeves and a lace collar both trimmed in hot pink. The whole outfit is accented by a matching pink satin bow around the waist ($25).

Or put your little girl in their Britland sailor-type dress. It is navy blue with purple, pink, teal and white. The white collar is edged in white lace, and there are buttons down the front ($11).

For the rougher environment at school, try a Cherokee blouse and jumper. The shirt is light blue with blue and white stripes at the sleeves and the jumper is denim with blue and white stripes at the bottom ($8 for both?).

23812 Via Fabricante, Suite A4, Mission Viejo, (714) 859-4397.

* CHILDREN’S TIME

This store carries new and used clothing.

In new clothing, try the Spencer long-sleeved turtleneck dress in black ($8). This loose-fitting, 50% cotton, 50% polyester dress is knee-length and goes well with a matching cotton headband of emerald green ($4.50) and a plastic crayon necklace ($2).

Or for your little princess, try Isabella’s Cinderella Look above-the-knee dress. This resale dress is white taffeta with pink satin trim ($17). Add a pink satin headband with pearls, which has been specially made by Donna Cowan ($4.30). They also have a resale Isabella pastel colored Patchwork Bunny dress. This knee-length 35% cotton, 65% polyester dress has a large white bow in the back and eyelet lace white trim on the bottom ($10).

10073 Valley View, Cypress, (714) 995-6090.

* LITTLE ONES RERUNS

For a birthday party, try a Sarah Kent 50% cotton, 50% polyester dress. This short-sleeved pink dress has winter green flowers and is accented with a pink satin belt. The dress is knee-length and falls straight ($15).

For a formal holiday party, try the Nicole. This beige dress has large pink flowers with green leaves and an oversize collar with beige lace trim. It is knee-length, 50% cotton, 50% polyester and has short puffy sleeves. A slip underneath gives the dress a full look ($55).

For more casual times at school, put your little girl in a Polly Flinders 100% cotton long-sleeved dress. It is beige with red tulips and has smocking on the front. Black satin bands enhance the sleeves and collar ($19).

7332 Center Ave., Huntington Beach, (714) 895-1508.

* SECOND SEASON CONSIGNMENT RESALE SHOP

For a formal occasion, dress your little lady in a Jazz Kids gold lame balloon skirt with a black velvet sleeveless top ($26). Accent with a gold bow hair band ($2).

Or bundle up your little darling in a long-sleeved, wine-colored velveteen dress that can be worn with or without an accompanying white eyelet pinafore ($10).

For school, try something more rugged such as the Esprit Kids pink rayon skirt and pink short-sleeved rayon blouse. This dress falls mid-calf and has one pocket ($11).

1831 E. Chapman Ave., Orange, (714) 538-0907.