What to Wear to a quinceañera: Tradition & Etiquette

Quinceañeras are a pivotal moment for any Hispanic girl turning 15. It is the ceremonial birthday where a girl turns into a woman. Little girls dream about their quince (an abbreviated way to say quinceañera) just the way they dream about their weddings.

If you are invited to one, you’re in luck! These are some of the best parties and events that you can RSVP to, and it is sure to be a lot of fun. But there is a lot of tradition and expectations that go into a girl’s quince, so you need to be prepared.

This is a party meant to only come in second to a girls’ wedding day, so don’t expect that your favorite pair of jeans is going to cut it for this event. These are formal events and require a dress code to match. But modern young ladies are stepping out of the traditional expectations of a quince and adding in new and fresh ideas.

One tradition that will most certainly be honored is the grand entrance, where the birthday girl is escorted into the party by her dad or close family member and presented to the attendees. This is also the time when the party-goers will need to make a formal greeting to the guest of honor, so your outfit will be on display for the birthday girl—and her whole family.

In order to spare you any embarrassment or regret, we have compiled this list of all the different ways you could dress for a quince.

A quinceañera is by tradition a very formal event, so if your friend is adhering to all the traditions and ceremonies that usually accompany this type of event, expect a very, very, formal event.

These are the times when your long gowns and best shoes need to come out to play. Mini dresses or jeans will not do at all and we would expect your friend and their family to be less than happy with you if you don’t listen!

Traditionally, for the birthday girl, a large bell-shaped ball gown is on the table for the event; because of this, we do recommend a long style but nothing that resembles this style. Leave your princess dresses at home and stick to a fit and flare or straight gown instead.

Mermaid gowns will be great as well, but don’t forget that part of the party includes a tremendous amount of dancing and, well, partying, so make sure that your gown offers movement and flow so you can get down with the best of them. Remember that your friend and their family will be just as taken aback with your casual outfit as they will be if you don’t dance; a party goer that doesn’t dance at a quince will be assumed to be bored, and that will mean that your friend’s family didn’t throw an acceptable event.

Another great option for the fancier quinces would be a high low dress; it would offer the formality of a full-length gown but offer more movement and a chance to show off whatever heels you paired with your look.

Above all else, remember that even though it is necessary to dress up for this fancy event, you need to keep your dress simple yet elegant. Anything with too busy of a pattern or too intricate of embroidery will distract from the quince honoree and will be considered in poor taste. Also, be sure to keep styles on the modest side. You don’t need everything to be covered but plunging necklines, sheer bodices, or a lot of cutout detail are inappropriate for this type of party.

The birthday girl should be the center of attention all evening and while you need to dress on their level, trying to be the star tonight would not be a great look for you. So on top of keeping patterns and cuts appropriate, ensure that your gown is very different from whatever your friend is planning on wearing.

They might be hesitant to show you their gown ahead of time, as part of the tradition is the surprise and wow factor entrance, but you could always show them the gowns you’re considering so they can say yes or no if certain dresses are too similar to theirs.

A lot of girls are breaking from the more traditional styles of quince parties and adding modern twists; one such way to do this is by adding a fun theme to their party instead of the formal expectations of generations past.

This means that instead of parties that require floor-length numbers, midi, and even some dressier short or mini options, are the perfect way to go. If you choose a mini, remember to keep the amount of skin showing as a factor so be sure to add a wrap or a blazer to the look to avoid a scandal.

If there is a theme that can be incorporated into your clothing, you should totally take it into consideration when looking for a dress. If your friend is having a winter wonderland party, there’s a chance you’re expected to wear white or a light gray color. A pair of gloves or a faux fur cape would be a great way to tie in this theme.

Some girls go for a wild animal-style event, in which case you can consider an animal print slip dress. The style will translate to the fancy vibes but be on-brand for what your friend wants for their party.

Gatsby or Old Hollywood-themed events have come back in style thanks to teen flicks like He’s All That. The scene where Paget takes everyone shopping for 20’s themed attire is fun and energetic; the epitome of the roaring ’20s. So naturally, a girl who picks this for a theme definitely wants to wow all of her guests. Metallics and fringe dresses are literally the only way to go for this style of event and are probably more than expected.

Mardi gras is also a very popular theme for quince events and would be a great way to emphasize the importance of fun. If this is the theme your birthday girl chose, think of incorporating the colors for mardi gras, yellow, and purple into your dress. Keep in mind here that this can be very tricky. If your friend is planning on wearing a dress in yellow and purple, you never, EVER, want to wear the same colors.

This goes for any style event they have. Just like you wouldn’t wear white to a wedding, don’t assume that coordinating your gown to the party color scheme is something you should do.

Instead, opt for a gown that has a lot of movement in a different bold color. Quince parties that are themed don’t have the same expectations for subdued patterns, so you can bump up the fun and vibrancy of your clothing for this event. This would also be a great time to consider a jumpsuit; it’s formal enough for a themed party, the black-tie factor is usually a little more fast and loose for these affairs, and provides you with a chance to be unique and dressed appropriately.

Ruffles or bows would be a great dress detail that would work for parties that expect a high level of energy and excitement. You should expect a wild night so definitely dress the part! Details like these are subtle but lively, so you don’t have to distract from the birthday girl but get in gear to help her celebrate her big night.

Above all, remember that your friend chose a theme because there is an expectation, and hope, that everyone will want to get involved. And you totally should! Support your friend just like they would support you for your birthday and you will be sure to be on the fast track to their (their family’s) favorite friend in no time!

Many girls opt for more casual affairs; a backyard bbq might be more their style or in an attempt to not go overboard with spending they choose a more casual event for their 15th birthday.

A backyard event will naturally be more casual so it’s ok to not wear a ball gown this time. However, we do still think it would benefit you greatly to still consider a dress instead of denim.

This is the best time to consider cocktail or mini dresses, and they will have a more casual vibe, but still be fun and great for partying in. Dresses in lace or floral patterns will look nice in shorter dresses to ensure that they’re still dressy enough for a big birthday event like this. Also, consider a skirt option in tulle for the lively shape and fun style.

A two-piece set would also be a great way to show a bit of skin, keep it to a minimum even for a casual affair, but be dressed up or down depending on the event. The great thing about the top skirt combo is that even a longer skirt will be playful and on-brand for the casual atmosphere you can expect.

You should also consider that for an event like this, you will want to stick to flats or smaller heels; not only will your higher heels sink in the grass or possibly scuff on the pavement, heels are usually reserved for more formal affairs than a backyard party so don’t go overboard stick out for the wrong reasons.

If you are dead set on a little height, opt for wedges or espadrilles. They will keep you from sinking into the ground and will vibe better with the style of party you’re attending. They will look the cutest with shorter styles as well so keeping your outfit coordinated is just great style advice.

Once you’ve found the perfect fit for the night, there are a few other things you need to remember.

1. Do not wear a tiara or a lot of rhinestone barrettes in your hair. This is something the birthday girl is sure to do, and this isn’t the time for twinning.

2. Make sure to say hello to the birthday girl and family once the grand entrance is made. Thanking them for your invitation and saying a big happy birthday as soon as the quince honoree arrives is a great way to adhere to tradition and be respectful to the family.

If you follow our dress code and remember our quick tips for being the perfect quince guest, you are sure to have the best time and help make your friend’s party the best it could be. quinceañeras are a time-honored tradition and being invited to one is a big deal. Be sure to stick to our etiquette advice and we promise you this party will be one for the books!