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What to Wear to a Baby Shower (Outfit Ideas and Dress Code)

Getting invited to a baby shower is exciting! There’s nothing better than being able to help your friend or family member welcome their little bundle of joy into the world! The food is always great. The games are always fun.

If you’ve never been to a baby shower, it’s important to wear the right thing so that you’re comfortable, but not out of place. Usually, you can wear a nice pair of jeans and a nice blouse to a baby shower.

However, there are plenty of other things to consider when picking out what to wear to a baby shower.

Follow Your Basic “What To Wear” Guidelines

There are certain guidelines in the fashion world that everyone should follow when deciding what to wear. For example, you wouldn’t wear a cocktail dress to a neighborhood barbecue.

Making sure that you follow the basic guidelines will guarantee that you can comfortably mingle at a baby shower. 

Wear Something Weather Appropriate

This can be hard to do in seasons like Spring when it’s raining one day and sunny the next, but if it’s hot, don’t wear a sweater dress. You want to make sure that you’re comfortable and don’t stick out.

Dressing in weather-appropriate clothing is a must to make that happen. If you’re not sure whether you’ll be chilly, bring a sweater and keep it in your car for a backup plan. 

Dressing In Something Uncomfortable Will Make You Feel Uncomfortable

If you wear something that you’re not comfortable in, you will find yourself feeling like you stick out, even if you don’t.

If you buy a new outfit, make sure to wear it around the house for a few hours before wearing it to the baby shower. Don’t wear anything that you feel self-conscious in. 

Dresses Are Always A Great Idea

When you’re not sure whether you can wear jeans, opt for a dress. A dress looks dressier than jeans and a t-shirt.

At the same time, it’s not so dressy that you will stand out if everyone else is dressed casually. This makes dresses the perfect idea if you don’t know what to wear. Pair them with leggings during chilly seasons, like Fall and Winter. 

Khakis Or White Pants Are Dressier Than Jeans

If you’re not a fan of wearing dresses, opt for a pair of khaki-colored or white jeans or pants. These are less casual than jeans, making them a wonderful option.

Pair them with a weather-appropriate top and boots or wedges for the perfect look.

women in a baby shower

Are You Supposed To Dress Up For A Baby Shower?

This is the one thing that makes it hard to decide what to wear to a baby shower. You don’t want to show up in casual clothing if everyone else is wearing a dress.

You’ll be uncomfortable, and not enjoy yourself. There are a couple of different ways that you can figure out whether you need to dress up for a baby shower. 

Social Etiquette Says You Don’t Have To

Social etiquette guides us to dress up for some events, like weddings but leaves other events, such as baby showers, open. This means that there is no hard and fast rule saying that you need to dress up. Instead, it depends on the baby shower. 

Ask Other Guests What They Are Wearing

If you know a few people that are going to the baby shower, ask them what they are wearing. If most of your friends are dressing up, you should too.

Even if only a hand full of people are dressed up, you won’t feel left out because your friends are overdressed too!

Ask The Hostess Or Mom To Be What She Will Be Wearing

You can also ask the mother to be what she is wearing. Most people try not to wear the same color as the soon-to-be mom because it can be viewed as them trying to steal the show.

You can also ask her if she’s dressing up or wearing jeans to make sure that you don’t dress up more than she is. 

Consider What Age The Hostess And Other Guests Are

Generally, older people are the less they tend to wear jeans. Of course, there are a few exceptions, but this is the general rule of thumb.

If you’re older, even if you love wearing jeans, consider wearing a pair of linen pants instead. Paper bag shorts are both in style and perfect for both dressy and casual events. 

What To Wear To A Baby Shower By Season

What season it is can instantly tell you what to wear to a baby shower. This complete guide can help you find the perfect outfit, and the shoes to match.

If you’re a jeans and t-shirts type of girl and want to wear something different, you’re going to find it here.

winter wear

Winter

Winter baby showers are always beautiful. They are surrounded by glistening snow and Christmas lights. It’s the perfect celebratory atmosphere!

Most people that have winter baby showers opt to have them indoors due to the cold weather, which is fabulous because you don’t have to worry about wearing heels on grass!

Sweater Dress

This is my go-to outfit for late Fall and Winter. It doesn’t matter where you’re going, you’ll instantly look put together. Causal dresses are available in various styles so you can find one to instantly match your body type.

You can also accessorize as much, or as little, as you would like without looking out of place. Sweater dresses give you the option to simply throw them on and look amazing. 

Leggings

Leggings are another great go-to option for Winter. They are instantly slimming, guaranteeing that you’ll look great in a dress. (Some styles of dresses show every flaw you have.)

Leggings are also warmer than other options. Regardless of your age or style, you can pull off leggings. Go for black, white, or grey. All three of those colors will coordinate with almost everything. 

Boots

Picking out boots can be a challenge because there are so many on the market! Thankfully, you can wear any type of boots with a dress in Winter. Pick up a pair of Uggs to enjoy them the entire season.

Opt for a pair of ankle-high boots if you’re slim. To appear more stylish, pick a pair of knee-high boots. These are seen on the runway every year! You can wear heeled boots or not, and it won’t matter. 

What To Wear To A Spring Baby Shower

Spring is a beautiful season for a baby shower. The flowers are in bloom, it’s not too hot and mother nature is slowly transforming the backdrop, which makes for perfect pictures.

young woman wearing a spring dress

However, Spring is also the one season that is horribly difficult to decide what to wear. You never know if it’s going to be rain or shine. There are a few tips you can follow to make sure that you have the perfect pre-planned outfit, though!

Casual Dress

A casual Spring dress is a great option! Dresses are an outfit all by themselves, so you can simply throw one on before walking out the door for an instantly amazing outfit.

It’s not Summer yet, so make sure to pick a dress that is made of thicker material. This will guarantee that you don’t get cold. 

Linen Pants

You can still comfortably wear pants in Spring, which is perfect if you haven’t gotten your summer tan yet!

Linen pants are acceptable for both dressy and casual events, and they are surprisingly comfortable. Pair them with a nice blouse for a timeless look. 

Don’t Wear Heels

People tend to move things outdoors when the weather is nice. Even if the shower is located inside, there’s a chance that games, mingling, or food might be outside.

You don’t want to be stuck in a gorgeous pair of heels in the grass, or worse, mud. Instead, pick a pair of cute flats. If the weather is nice, a pair of flat sandals is a nice option as well. 

What To Wear To A Summer Baby Shower

baby shower dress

Summer baby showers can be harder to dress for. You instantly want to wear less clothing because it’s bound to be hot.

However, you also need to be a little dressier than jeans because it’s a baby shower. These awesome ideas will get you through the summer heat without making you appear inappropriately dressed. 

Casual Summer Dresses

Once again, dresses are always a great option. Pick up a fun summer dress in a cool fabric to stay comfortable during outdoor baby showers.

If the baby shower is indoors, bring a sweater. Most people crank up the air conditioning during the summer months, so you might get cold. 

Paper Bag Styled Shorts

These are the most versatile shorts I own. They suffice as mom shorts for parent/teacher conferences. Not only that, they can be worn anywhere and still look great because they are always in style.

Paper bag style shorts are acceptable for every age group, making them perfect if you’re not a fan of dresses but still want to look your age. Lastly, they are really cool in the summer. They are as cool as linen shorts! 

Check The Weather If You Want To Wear Heels

For summer baby showers, both heels and flats are acceptable. However, if you want to wear heels you need to check the weather forecast. Don’t wear heels if it’s rained within a week.

The ground will still be soft, leading to your heels sinking into the mud. This also applies to wedges. If it’s muddy, it can make it even harder to walk in wedges. Instead, go with a cute pair of sandals. 

What To Wear To A Fall Baby Shower

It can be tempting to wear jeans and a hoody to a Fall baby shower, but save that outfit for the bonfire.

young woman wearing gray cardigan and red top

Instead, go with something a bit less casual to show that you consider the event a special one. These ideas will help you piece together an outfit that is instantly impressive. 

Winter Wear Is Also Appropriate In Fall

Wearing a sweater dress, leggings and boots can easily be your outfit for a Fall baby shower.

This classic combination will look amazing, keep you warm, and it instantly says “Fall”. Opt for colors in red or orange to coordinate perfectly with the season!

Jeans Can Be Appropriate

In the Fall, jeans can be deemed appropriate if you pair them with the perfect outfit. Instead of beat-up tennis shoes, select a pair of cute boots. For a shirt, choose a nice blouse or chic top with a cardigan. Skinny jeans always look stylish!

Oversized Sweaters

Oversized sweaters never go out of style! Pair your favorite off the shoulder sweater with a pair of leggings or skinny jeans with boots for a classic, yet baby shower appropriate, look.

This is another Fall classic that is suitable to wear almost anywhere!

What Colors Should You Wear To A Baby Shower?

There is a color code for almost every event. For example, you should never wear white to a wedding. Black and shades of grey are usually worn at funerals.

The long list of rules seems to go on and on. It’s important to make sure that you wear the right colors to avoid sticking out, and accidentally being offensive. 

Can You Wear White To A Baby Shower?

Yes! There’s no hard and fast rule saying that you can’t wear white to a baby shower. This rule is typically reserved for weddings, where the bride should be the only person wearing white. 

Can You Wear Black To A Baby Shower?

Yes, you can wear black to a baby shower. Most people do not as black is common at funerals so it can feel awkward to wear black to a baby shower.

However, this is a personal opinion. There are no fashion rules stating that you cannot wear black to a baby shower. 

Do I Have To Wear A Dress To A Baby Shower?

No, you do not have to wear a dress for a baby shower. While most people dress more feminine for baby showers, there are plenty of options to choose from that will fit your style.

You can wear pants, shorts, a skirt or even your favorite pair of white skinny jeans!

Neutral Colors Are Always Acceptable

Neutral colors, such as beige, blush, and shades of tan are always acceptable. They appear elegant, making them ideal for baby showers at country clubs or hotels.

These same colors are also casual enough that they will look in place at a backyard baby shower or baby shower at someone’s home. 

Final Baby Shower Dress Code Etiquette

baby shower

While these fashion rules are not set in stone, you should keep them in mind when attending a baby shower. These will help you pick an outfit, and guarantee that you don’t stick out. Most people at the shower will follow at least one of these. 

Don’t Overdress Or Make A Statement

A baby shower is not the place to look your best. Save the new handbag your friends will be gushing over for the next event.

Instead, opt for something that looks nice but isn’t over the top. You don’t want to overshadow the mom to be. This is extremely rude and inconsiderate. 

Dress Feminine

Most people dress more feminine for baby showers. This doesn’t mean that you have to wear pink if you like all black, but perhaps selecting a black and white floral blouse isn’t such a bad idea. Flowers, soft colors, and flowing fabrics are all considered feminine. 

Opt For Pretty

The general mood of baby showers is light and whimsical when compared to other events. If too many people dress in dark or muted colors it can kill the whimsical vibe.

Instead, opt for colors that are considered “pretty” by society, such as baby blues, pinks, or greens. Yellow is another gorgeous color! 

In Conclusion

When picking what to wear to a baby shower, always dress appropriately for the season and current weather.

Staying stylish without overshadowing the soon to be mom and hostess of the shower will instantly guarantee that you feel comfortable and don’t stand out.

You don’t have to dress feminine for baby showers, but most people do. Simply follow the tips above and you’re going to be dressed perfectly for the shower!