Quinceanera Dress

What is a Quinceañera?

A quinceañera is a fifteenth birthday celebration for young Latina girls. Similar in some ways to a Sweet Sixteen party, it is meant to celebrate her newfound status as an adult. It typically includes a religious ceremony followed by a reception. Some girls will only have a reception if they don't follow a particular religion, or their religion doesn't offer a quinceañera ceremony.

Shopping for Quinceañera Dresses

Dresses suitable for a quinceañera can be found at any store selling formal dresses. While the quinceañera dress was traditionally white, teen girls have turned to other colors in their quest to be fashionable and stand out from the crowd. Softer, pastel colors are still chosen more often than bold, bright colors.

Bridal Shops

If you're looking for a traditional white dress, a bridal shop is the best place to start your search. Depending on the market, bridal shops may offer a selection of specially-designed quinceañera dresses, and they also stock prom dresses in the spring.

Clothing Stores

If you're looking for something a little different from a wedding gown, then a clothing store with a stock of formalwear will be your best bet. You can find dresses at large clothing stores like JCPenney and specialty retailers like Deb. The best seasons for finding formal dresses are in the early fall when schools plan homecoming dances, mid-winter when stores stock dresses for holiday parties, and in the spring pre-prom season.

Online

Browse an extensive selection of dresses from the comfort of your own home when you visit these and other online retailers:

• David's Bridal offers a selection of their standard wedding dresses chosen for their potential as quinceañera dresses.
• ChristinaGowns.com specializes in teen formalwear. The store offers a sale and clearance page for bargain shoppers.
• Joyful Events features three collections of dresses designed for quinceañeras. They also stock invitations, tiaras, and accessories.

Before purchasing a dress online, read the site's return policies carefully. The convenience of shopping online can quickly turn into a headache if the dress doesn't fit.

The Court

The birthday girl's attendants will also need dresses. Prom dresses and bridesmaid dresses make suitable choices, and they can be purchased from the same stores as the quinceañera dress.

Accessories

A complete quinceañera ensemble may also include the following pieces:

• Gloves
• Headpiece
• Tiara
• High heels
• Ring
• Bracelet
• Scepter

Some of these accessories are part of the formal ceremony, and they are given a symbolic meaning as they are presented to the birthday girl.

Saving Money

Like most formalwear, quinceañera dresses can be costly. Consider the following suggestions for purchasing a dress without going into debt:

• Find clearance sales - Bridal shops often put older dresses on clearance when new collections arrive. If you visit the mall immediately after homecoming, prom, or the holiday season, you can find great discounts as stores try to clear their racks.
• Buy secondhand - Shop local thrift stores and garage sales for wedding and prom dresses. You may also find the dress of your dreams at a discounted price on eBay.
• Share dresses - If a friend or family member is also celebrating a quinceañera, try to share a single dress. Not all teens will want to wear the same dress as someone else on their special day, though.
• Sew your own - You can find patterns and material for wedding, bridesmaid, and prom dresses at your local craft supply store. However, sewing a formal dress takes considerable skill, so you'll have to consider whether the time you will invest is worth the money saved.
• Buy a dress you can wear again - If you purchase a quinceañera dress with homecoming, prom, or a winter formal in mind, you can get more use for your money.