Outfits to Wear on Birthday

A person’s birthday marks the anniversary of their actual or symbolic birth. People’s birthdays are commemorated in many cultures, frequently with presents, cards, parties, or rites of passage.

Numerous religions observe particular holidays (such as Christmas, Mawlid, Buddha’s Birthday, and Krishna Janmashtami) to commemorate the birth of their founders or other religious leaders. Birthday and birthdate are two different things; the former occurs every year, with the exception of February 29, and the latter is the whole date of birth (e.g. January 15, 2001).

In most legal systems, when a person reaches the age of majority (often between 12 and 21), they are considered to be legally adults and are granted certain rights and obligations. At certain ages, a person may become eligible to vote, run for elected office, purchase (or consume) alcohol and tobacco products legally, leave full-time education, become subject to military conscription or enlist in the military, consent to sexual activity, marry with parental consent, marry without parental consent, join the military, buy lottery tickets, or get a driver’s license. The age of majority is the point at which minors stop being regarded children legally and gain responsibility over their own bodies, actions, and decisions, ending parental or guardian legal control and obligations towards them. Although it varies by jurisdiction, the majority age is generally fixed at 18.

A birthday is a special time, and it’s important to look the part with outfits that suit your personality. This collection of birthday outfits from our favorite brands will help you create the perfect look for your very own celebration! Your friends and family will be thrilled at the thought of you celebrating your birthday with a fun outfit that also fits into your budget, but it doesn’t have to break the bank!

Outfits to Wear on Birthday

Picking Out a Special Outfit
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Catch everyone’s eye by wearing a sparkly, flashy dress. Sequins and glitter are all the rage and will guarantee that you’re the star of the day. For a more subtle, classic look, pick a cream, light pink, or black sparkle dress. For something that pops a little more, look for red, blue, or a mixed-color dress.[1]
If the weather is cool, pair your dress with tights and a jacket to keep yourself warm.
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Keep things classy by wearing a simple black dress. This is a classic style that doesn’t take much time to pull together but that will make you look great! You can keep it casual by cinching the dress with a belt or wearing a pair of fashion sneakers with it, or dress it up by wearing heels and a statement necklace.[2]
Keep in mind where you’ll be when you’re wearing your birthday outfit. If you’ll be at school, adding a pair of white Keds and a choker necklace would be a cool look. If you’re hitting the town, a colorful clutch and a dangly pair of earrings could help complete your outfit.
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Showcase your personality by mixing and matching patterns or textures. For example, you could pair an animal-print skirt with a sparkly top, or wear leather pants with a velvet sweater. Look for pieces that catch your eye that you might not normally put together, and try pairing them up. You might be surprised by what works![3]

Stripes and floral prints, polka dots and lace, pink pants and a red sweater—there are tons of great combos that you could wear to make your birthday outfit super special.
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Stay comfortable and chic by wearing a nice pair of pants and a new top. If your style is more laid-back, try wearing a pair of skinny jeans with a nice blouse. You could even wear a graphic tee and a jean jacket or some other kind of combination to look cool while still keeping things casual.[4]
Even a nice pair of leggings can help you look and feel good on your birthday.
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Wear a fitted pair of jeans with a shirt and jacket for a more masculine vibe. Black pants, jeans, or khakis are great choices for pants, just make sure they fit well and aren’t too baggy or wrinkly. Add a clean, crisp T-shirt or a nice button-up top, and overtop of that, wear a bomber jacket or something similar to finish off your outfit.[5]

To keep your outfit on the casual side, wear a pair of clean athletic sneakers. Or, dress things up with Chelsea boots or oxford shoes.
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Choose an outfit that you feel comfortable and attractive in. What you wear on your birthday comes down to your own personal style. You could use this as an opportunity to wear something fancy and flashy, or you could stick with your normal kind of outfit. Whatever you choose, make sure you like it and feel good in it.[6]
It’s your birthday, so chances are people might pay a little more attention to you than they usually do. If you love the extra attention, lean into it and choose an eye-catching outfit. If attention makes you uncomfortable, pick a nice outfit, but don’t make it too different from what you normally wear.
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Thrift a new outfit if you can’t buy a new one. Celebrating your birthday and looking special doesn’t have to require a lot of money. Turn your thrifting trip into a birthday celebration by inviting along a few good friends. You can have fun searching the racks for unique finds and can model the clothes for each other. Look for some of these fun outfit combos:[7]
A sundress and jacket
Jeans and a new-to-you sweater
A sparkly or shiny skirt or dress
Jeans, a button-up shirt, and a blazer
Black leggings and a cool graphic tee
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Make sure your clothes are neat and clean if you wear a uniform. If you’re in school or a job where you have to follow a dress code, you can still look nice on your birthday! Plan ahead to wash your clothes so they’re fresh, clean, and unwrinkled for your big day.[8]
Don’t forget to clean up your shoes, too! If they have mud caked on them or are scuffed, clean them up so they look like new again.
If you do have to wear a uniform, focus on making sure your hair, makeup, and general hygiene are on point.
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Accessorizing Your OutfitDownload Article
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Add a scarf or hat to your outfit for a splash of color and style. Simply loop a scarf around your neck, or get more stylized by using a silk scarf as a choker or headband. During the spring and summer, wear a sunhat or fedora to spice up your outfit, or don a beanie during the winter to keep you warm while still looking stylish.[9]
If these types of items aren’t your style, that’s totally okay. Choose accessories that you’re comfortable with so that you’ll look natural and at ease.
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Wear a unique necklace to complement your outfit. A statement necklace can transform any outfit into a more stylized ensemble. If you wear a statement necklace, you really won’t need much else in the way of jewelry. Try out some of these ideas:[10]
Wear a bright, colorful statement necklace with a plain outfit, like black pants and a nice, single-toned top.
Dress up a top or dress with a low neckline with a chunky statement necklace.
Wear a gold, silver, or black necklace if your outfit is really colorful.
Add a choker to your outfit for a younger, hipper vibe.
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Pair a dress or skirt with fun tights if the weather is cooler. Black tights are classic, but you could also pick colored or patterned tights for a fun look. If you do wear brightly colored tights, try to keep the rest of your outfit fairly simple, like a single-toned dress or a neutral skirt and top combo.[11]
A fun way to pick colored tights is to use an accent color from your outfit to match them to. For example, if you’re wearing a patterned dress that has green threading throughout, wear a pair of tights that are the same shade of green.
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Carry a cool purse or handbag to complete your outfit. If your outfit is neutral in color, use a purse or handbag that is bright and expressive. Buy something new, use something you already have, or thrift a new-to-you bag that can complete your birthday look.[12]
Think about where you’ll be on your birthday. If you’ll be at school, a regular-sized purse might be best so you can carry your notebooks, pens, and phone. If you’ll be going out, a clutch or wristlet could work well so you can just bring the essentials with you.
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Add a nice leather belt and a watch to your outfit for a masculine look. If you’re going for a more masculine vibe, it can feel hard to accessorize. Try adding a nice quality dark brown or light tan belt. Similarly, a large watch can add a bit of flash to your outfit without making it feel overdone.[13]
If either your belt, watch strap, or shoes are made of leather, try to stick with a single shade to make your look more cohesive.
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Doing Your Hair and MakeupDownload Article
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Create a sparkly, unique look by doing glitter roots on your birthday. Go all out by wearing a sparkly outfit and adding sparkles to your hair, or amp up a toned-down outfit by adding multi-colored sparkles to your hairline. Style your hair how you want it first, and then use hair gel and glitter to create your look.[14]
At the end of the day, just massage some olive oil into your hair, let it rest for 10 minutes, and then shampoo and condition your hair as normal to get the glitter out.
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Get a blowout at the salon so your hair is shiny and smooth. A blowout is a great way to get a perfect style for your special day, and it could also last you most of your birthday week! Let your stylist know if you want waves, curls, straightened hair, or some other style so they can work their magic.[15]
Tip: While you can definitely visit a blowout bar, which specializes in this task, you could also schedule a visit at your regular salon and just skip the haircut. Instead, just ask for a wash and style.

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Style your hair into beach waves for a soft, feminine look. If you normally wear your hair up or tend to straighten it every day, creating beach waves can really make you look different and stand out on your birthday. You can use a curling iron or hair straightener to make waves, or you could even get a leave-in product and let your hair air dry for a similar effect.[16]
Beach waves look really nice, and they go with casual or fancy outfits. You can also do this style with most hair lengths except for pixie cuts.

Best Birthday Outfits for Ladies

Birthday celebrations are kind of a big deal, especially when it’s your own. Whether you’re the type of person to go all-out with a full-blown celebration—professional photographer and DJ included—or you prefer a low-key get-together with your closest friends, there’s no doubt that you deserve to look and feel great on your birthday. And as you start preparing to celebrate your next trip around the sun, it’s only appropriate to have a handful of birthday outfits on-hand to start your new year off in style.

Let’s be honest: Your birthday is something to get excited about and your birthday outfit should be no different. It is your night after all, which means you’ll be the center of attention. Ahead, we’ve pulled together It girl-approved looks that are so cool, they’re worth celebrating all on their own. Give yourself a head start on planning your birthday fête and scroll down to see all of these chic outfits below.