Sweet 16 parties are easy and fun to dress up for, well, only if it’s your party. Knowing what to wear to a sweet 16 as a guest is a lot more complicated. After all, you don’t want to be the odd one out as this may make you feel uncomfortable and possibly upset the party girl.
If you just got invited to a sweet 16 party and you have no idea what to wear or where to buy it, don’t worry. In this article, we’ll tell you how to go about finding the right dress for the party.
Consider Formality
The first thing you want to do when deciding what to wear for a sweet 16 party is to consider the formality of the party. Look at the invite. Does it say casual, formal, semi-formal, or black-tie?
Depending on the formality, you can choose the appropriate length, cut, and style. If the party is formal, wear a dress with a lower hemline. You can get away with shorter hemlines for less formal events.
Casual
Casual parties can be confusing especially because you probably dress casually all the time (Translation: jeans and tees).
Let’s just say straight out that your everyday casual wear (especially if there are jeans involved) is a big no-no for any party -even those that are themed casual.
You want to go in a dress, a jumpsuit or a skirt. Stick to light fabrics and cheerful colors and prints. When it comes to selecting your dress, avoid going over the top -simple but stylish with a reasonable hem length will do just fine.
Semi-formal
Semi-formal is great because it is an in-between of formal and casual. This gives you a lot more wiggle room to experiment with your fashion choices. Again, we stress the need to wear something like a jumpsuit or a dress instead of jeans. A short dress (around mid-thigh or longer) is okay. A longer hemline is also appropriate, but floor-length hemlines might be a bit overstated for a semi-formal party.
If your dress style leans more towards elegant cuts, go with a high-low dress. Feel free to experiment with prints, and by all means don’t shy away from dresses with lace details or embellishments.
Formal
Finding something to wear to a formal party might seem a bit daunting, but don’t let it intimidate you. Look at this as an opportunity to play around with new looks and to practice dressing up for the many formal parties you’ll attend in your life.
Long dresses, a formal jumpsuit or romper, a long skirt, or pantsuit, are all great choices for a formal sweet 16 party. If you must wear a romper, go for one with a skirt overlay to give it that added formality.
As for colors, dark hues are most preferable, but you can also go slightly adventurous with lighter colors -just no neons please, unless you are absolutely certain you know how to accessorize them.
Black tie
Black tie events are your opportunity to look elegant, polished, and stunning. Dress up in an elegant form-fitting or A-line dress. Go for solid colors and don’t forget to accessorize with the right pair of shoes and statement jewelry.
Look at the Venue
Knowing where the party will be can help you decide what to wear. Beyond the obvious fact that you don’t want to go to a posh hotel in overly-casual dressing, there is also the weather to consider.
For example, an outdoor venue such as the beachside might expose you to the cold, so you want to choose clothes that will protect you from the breeze. In addition, a short dress by the ocean might result in embarrassing dress malfunctions, so put on a dress that will stand up against the wind.
Check the Weather
If you are attending a sweet sixteen party during tricky weather, you will have to vary your attire depending on if the party will be held inside or outside.
A floor-length dress and strappy heels might sound like a good idea, but they won’t do so well once it begins to pour. Likewise, a pant suit might leave you sweaty and clammy if the party is on a hot afternoon.
Plan accordingly: carry a coat if it’s likely to get cold, wear a hat or lighter dress if it’s likely to be a hot day.
Take Into Account Any Special Requests
The birthday girl might want to hold a themed sweet 16 party. A color-themed party (white and pink are usually popular but to each their own) means you need to dress up in that color. If the party has a character, fairy-tale, or holiday (such as Halloween) theme, then you need to find the right clothes for that theme.
Conclusion
As you can see, it’s not that hard to dress up for a sweet 16 party as a guest once you have the right information. In addition to what’s we’ve highlighted the above, remember the following:
- Ask if uncertain
You will only get answers if you ask questions. And who better to ask than the birthday girl herself? You might be unsure about a theme, venue, or formality. Find out so that you can shop while armed with the right information.
- Avoid last-minute preparations
Prepare well by shopping early. Last-minute shopping and preparations are likely to result in a lot of mistakes and wardrobe malfunctions. When you shop early, you can try out the fit of your dress and find the right shoes and accessories for it.
- Don’t be afraid to dress to make a statement
Only ensure you’re making the right one. Go for outfits that will make you look stunning and elegant no matter the formality of the party.
- Shop with the future in mind
You will most likely attend other parties in the future, so shop for quality outfits that you can wear again.
That’s it! I think we’ve given you all the information you need to shop for the perfect dress to wear to a sweet 16 party as a guest. So what are you waiting for? Get shopping.
