Okay, let’s face it: your birthday is by far the best occasion of the year. After all, it’s the one day you get to shamelessly pamper yourself and have all the attention on you!
If you’ve booked a late-night dinner reservation to celebrate, whether with the girls or your beau, you’ll no doubt need an outfit that makes you feel your best on this special day.
Below, we’ll share our 10 favorite birthday dinner outfit ideas to kickstart your inspo. We’ll also provide some tips on how to spruce your attire up even further (spoiler alert: accessories are always the way!)
What to Consider When Choosing Your Birthday Dinner Outfit
There’s no debate that your b-day outfit needs to be extra special and make you feel like a zillion bucks. There are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind when picking out your attire for the night.
Venue Dress Code
Many restaurants have a dress code of some form, especially upscale spots that pride themselves on pampering guests with a glitzy experience. Unfortunately, even on your birthday, you won’t be able to bend these rules. Double-check with the venue in advance about their dress code before splurging on a new outfit.
Dress code terms can be confusing, but don’t let them send you into a fashion crisis. Here’s a quick overview of the most common dress codes at dinner parties:
- Smart Casual: A happy medium between casual and formal; usually involves pairing a sophisticated piece with a dressed-down garment. A fitted midi dress with a relaxed blazer can work wonderfully for a smart casual dress code.
- Cocktail: A party look that leans more formal, but won’t require you to dress up to the nines. Above-the-knee cocktail dresses and bold, vibrant colors are a staple here.
- Black Tie: A formal and sophisticated dress code where floor-length dresses shine. Opt for maxi-length dresses and neutral colors like black, cream, and silver. Keep chunky shoes and open-toed heels out of the equation (elegant stilettos will do the trick).
Practicality and Comfort
Yes, your birthday outfit should be a total showstopper, but don’t forsake practicality and comfort entirely in your quest to steal the limelight! This is especially the case at a dinner party where you’ll have to sit, eat, and socialize throughout the night.
Opt for comfortable materials that have some stretch to them and won’t crumple easily, like silk, wool, or nylon, and make sure to pick attire that you’ll feel confident and secure in.
Consider the Season
Speaking of comfort… Battling against the elements is going to either leave you a hot, sweaty mess or shivering and pink-cheeked. It’s important to work with the elements and choose appropriate clothes for the season. Keep to breathable, light dresses in the summer months, and consider layering up with knitted attire during winter.
Birthday Party Theme
If you’ve chosen a particular theme for your birthday dinner, dressing up for it is a great way to add life to the celebration. It also means any party decorations — which can often be bold and wild — will complement your outfit beautifully rather than clash against it.
Your outfit doesn’t have to be heavily inspired by the theme, but do try to keep within the party color palette or add a subtle nod to it through your accessories. For example, if you’re having a tea-themed dinner party, you can wear an elegant hat or elbow-length gloves.
Embrace Your Features
There’s a reason why “wear the clothes, don’t let the clothes wear you” is a fashion tip virtually every designer has echoed at some point in their lives.
Always consider what kinds of materials, shapes, and colors flatter your natural features and allow you to feel confident in your body. Don’t just pick your outfit based on what’s “trendy” — trends come and go, but your beautiful, unique features are here to stay!
Our Top 10 Birthday Dinner Outfit Ideas
The following birthday dinner outfit ideas are elegant, versatile, and sure to keep all eyes on you.
Chic & Strapless
A strapless dress is a classic party look for a reason: It demands attention while adding a flair of elegance!
Keep things extra chic with a short cocktail dress, a vibrant color that flatters your undertones, and a pair of strappy heels. Opt for a longer, flowy strapless look and stilettos if it’s a black tie dress code.
Flattering A-Line Look
A-line dresses are flattering on virtually everyone, making them the perfect place to start if you’re not sure how to best bring out your natural features. They’re also super comfortable, and due to their shape, look effortless even when you’re sat at the dinner table.
A-line dresses come in a whole range of colors, lengths, and styles, so you’re sure to find one you absolutely love (and works with the dress code or party theme).
Sleek & Backless
Sexy and sleek, the backless dress is sure to keep guests’ eyes on you from all angles. It works wonderfully at formal events, especially during the summer and spring months, and will allow you to show a subtle touch of skin without the feeling of being exposed.
A backless dress does require confidence to pull off, but that’ll likely come naturally when you see how showstopping you look when you slip it on.
Bold Jumpsuits
Defy traditional birthday outfit conventions with a daring, bold jumpsuit! You’re sure to stand out and give off total trendsetter vibes. Let’s be real: there is nothing more comfortable than a jumpsuit. It’s easy to slip on and off and will allow you to move around freely at the party.
A sleek jumpsuit can fit any season and can be dressed up with heels, jewelry, and a clutch bag.
Lace It Up
Why not add a touch of lace to your birthday dinner outfit? Lace offers an elegant, sophisticated, and timeless look that never goes out of style. Plus, it can fit practically any season or event. For the “wow” factor, opt for a dress with a sheer lace corset.
Bedazzle the Night
There’s no such thing as too many sparkles. Channel your inner glam with a sequin-covered dress that’ll light up the night wherever you go. It’s easy to find sequin dresses in a whole range of bold, vibrant colors, so they’re a great option if you have a particular color theme in mind for your birthday party.
Wow in Halter
A dress with a halter neckline is super flattering on the shoulders and will help draw attention to your smile (and glamorous makeup look). Halter dresses are particularly ideal for people with broader shoulders or hourglass figures, but with the right fit and styling, anyone can make a halter dress work as a stunning birthday outfit.
Light and Floral
If you’re celebrating in spring, why not get inspired by the season? A light, floral dress will suit both you and the weather perfectly and it’s ideal for more laidback birthday dinner parties. You can even find a design that incorporates your favorite flowers or colors!
If you’re after a fairy-esque vibe, consider a floral dress with embellished ruffles and sheer balloon sleeves.
Little Black Dress (LBD)
Coco Chanel, Princess Diana, Audrey Hepburn — all these famous figures have used the little black dress as their ultimate statement piece. So, it goes without saying that an LBD can become your statement piece too! You can opt for a classic, well-fitted short LBD, or something with more length if the occasion calls for it.
Femme Fatale
Heat up the night and draw eyes with a bold, red dress (aka a sexy “femme fatale” look). You can experiment with different lengths and silhouettes, though we firmly believe you can never go wrong with a red, mermaid dress with a slit. Pair it with a killer red lipstick and black clutch.
How to Glamorize Your Birthday Dinner Outfit
Many dresses can work by themselves as gorgeous statement pieces, but if you want to add your own personal flair and spruce things up even further? There are a few ways to achieve this:
- Accessorize: Belts, necklaces, earrings, scarves, sunglasses — they’re all fantastic ways to add an extra glam element to any outfit. However, don’t go over the top with your accessories; too many will overpower the dress and may even leave you looking frumpy.
- Experiment With Texture: You can mix and match various textures together to add more dimension to your outfit. When experimenting, remember that different textures give different impressions; silk offers a luxurious, elegant feel while leather offers a punky, semi-casual flair.
- Create a Matching Makeup Look: Choosing a makeup look that complements both you and your birthday outfit will help you look effortless. A simple trick is to pick a lipstick shade that matches your dress color. Make sure whichever lipstick formula you choose is long-lasting as you’ll be eating throughout the night.
- Use a Dressy Clutch Bag: This is technically an accessory, but we feel it deserves its own special mention. A dressy clutch bag can completely elevate your birthday outfit and can suit both casual and formal occasions. You can pick a clutch bag that matches the color or texture of your dress for a sleek look, or add some boldness with a contrasting hue.
- Glam Up Your Hairstyle: Your outfit shouldn’t be the only thing sparkling — your hair deserves a “glow up” too! You can wear your hair in a tight bun for a sophisticated look, or style it down and add volume with curls or soft waves. When choosing a hairstyle, it’s important to factor in your features; what works for someone with an oval-shaped face may not work for a round face.
Celebrating Your Birthday Meal in Style
Whether it’s a formal black tie gathering or a laidback meal out, celebrating your birthday in style will allow you to feel your best and leave a lasting impression. Remember to pick an outfit that gives you confidence, is comfortable to wear, and complements both your features and the venue (or dinner party theme).
We’ve provided plenty of birthday dinner outfit ideas above to get you started, but do have a browse through our collections at Sherri Hill for more inspo!
