The Complete Guide to Birthday Outfits

The Complete Guide to Birthday Outfits
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Birthday parties are always a great chance to celebrate the most important people in your life—including yourself. The right party will have the perfect mix of guests for a day or night of fun, delicious food including cake, plenty of activities to keep everyone occupied, and of course, an outfit.

Choosing the right outfit for your birthday is a surprisingly important decision. Luckily, we’ve put together a complete guide to birthday outfits, no matter the age, occasion, or person you are shopping for. Check out our article for inspiration to make you the star of the show! Then, before you buy your outfit online, check out US-Reviews to make sure that you are buying from a reputable shop.

What’s In This Blog?

There’s a surprising amount of consideration that goes into planning a birthday outfit. This blog will cover all the factors, including the history of the birthday outfit, what to consider when shopping for different people, and the best American webshops to buy from.

Here is what to expect.

What Is a Birthday Outfit?

- The History of Birthday Parties

Birthday Outfits for Everyone

- 1st Birthday Outfits

- Birthday Outfits for Teens

- Birthday Outfits for Adults

What to Think About When Choosing the Perfect Party Outfit

Where to Buy Birthday Outfits

What Is a Birthday Outfit?

In the simplest terms, a birthday outfit is a special outfit that you wear to a birthday party. There is no other constraint on your celebratory ‘fit.

Most people use their party outfits as an excuse to go all-out, and you will see recommendations from fashion magazines that follow this line of thinking. The logic is that nobody can tell you off for being too dramatic if it’s your birthday, so that’s the one day a year you can wear as many sequins, feathers, and dramatic ball gowns as you want.

However, if going all out in terms of fashion just doesn’t fit your style, don’t worry. While many online retailers sell birthday sets and outfits picked out just for parties, you can always put together your own.

The History of Birthday Parties

The history of special outfits for birthdays is unclear, but we know a bit more about the history of birthday parties. Birthday parties are mentioned as early as the Bible—apparently Egyptian pharaohs threw lavish, multi-day birthday parties fitting for emperors. However, only kings got to celebrate their birthdays in ancient Egypt.

It’s only during the Enlightenment Age that Westerners, including commoners, began celebrating their birthdays. The birthday became a day when everyone could be king of the castle for at least a day—complete with special birthday party outfits.

Today, the concept of special outfits for birthday parties was popularized by celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, whose birthday outfits inspire roundups in tabloids.

Birthday Outfits for Everyone

The answer to “who can wear a birthday outfit” is everyone. If you are celebrating your birthday, congratulations! You can wear a special outfit.

Most articles about this subject do focus on women, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t plenty of cute birthday outfits for men of all ages and styles.

First Birthday Outfits

We don’t need to conduct a formal poll to conclude that first birthday outfits are probably some of the cutest outfits out there. Baby’s first birthday deserves to be remembered with a special party, including an outfit that you will cherish for as long as the pictures last.

When you’re picking out the right outfit for a baby, there’s a few more factors to consider than when planning for an adult’s birthday party. The outfit should be comfortable and easy to clean. While gorgeous expensive outfits are tempting, keep in mind that babies are messy—and will probably not act cleaner than usual when first encountering a birthday cake.

You also need to think about safety and comfort when thinking of where to buy 1st birthday outfits. Shop from respected retailers that use baby-safe material for their clothing such as Carter’s. Before buying any outfits, be sure to check out fashion retailer reviews to see what other parents experienced.

Birthday Outfits for Teens

While all birthdays are important, kids don’t usually care about what they wear (they’re more interested in bouncy houses or potentially getting a pony). Teens are a different story.

Birthday outfits for teens are the ideal way for young people to express themselves. Plus, with the importance of social media for young people, fancy outfits are a great way to feel confident online and offline.

The teenage years also come with many special birthdays that require outfits that go all out. Quinceaneras and sweet sixteens are opportunities for teenagers to wear gorgeous dresses and feel like princesses on their special day.

Birthday Outfits for Adults

Being an adult doesn’t mean that you have to stop having fun—on the contrary, adulthood unlocks a new world of birthday outfits. Without the constraints of teenage budgets or parents, birthday outfits for women can go all out.

There are also many milestone birthdays in adulthood that are worth celebrating, such as the 21st birthday. 21st birthday outfits should be fun and over-the-top so you can take your first (legal) trip to the bar in style!

What to Think About When Choosing the Perfect Party Outfit

While the Internet is full of suggestions when it comes to birthday party outfits, what you get is ultimately up to you.

The most important factor is your style. You should wear an outfit that makes you feel like your best self, not as if you’re trying to play dress-up in someone else’s clothes. Most birthday party outfit roundups focus on sexy or dramatic looks, but there are plenty of sweet, cute birthday outfits if that’s more your style.

Another thing to think about is the weather. Winter birthday outfits are very different from summer birthday outfits. You can still look stunning for winter birthdays with some creative looks, such as layering funky tights under a party dress.

Finally, think about the activity you are doing for your birthday. The perfect outfit for your backyard barbecue will be different from the perfect outfit for a gathering at the club. You want to wear something that you will feel comfortable in all day and night.

Where to Buy Birthday Outfits

If you don’t want to go to the trouble of creating your own outfit, many retailers have special “birthday outfit” sections in their shop or online with attention-grabbing dresses and sets. You can shop at brick-and-mortar retailers such as Macy’s, Nordstrom, or even Target if you are on a budget.

However, shopping online gives you more options. Popular fast fashion sites such as Shein and FashionNova and lesser-known gems like Oh Polly have entire sections dedicated to clothing that will help you dazzle on your birthday.

Birthday outfits are just one factor in pulling off the perfect birthday party, but don’t underestimate the power of the right clothing to help you feel good on your special day. Check out our advice and customer reviews to make sure your outfit will shine!

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