What to Wear to a Baby Shower

You’ve got a baby shower coming up, and while you’re excited to celebrate a family member or friend as they welcome a new life into the world, you’re just not sure what to wear to a baby shower. Is it casual? Is it fancy? And how do you even know?

The good news is that baby shower attire is usually easy to determine based on what you know about the shower itself. From the season to the venue, context clues will clue you in on the baby shower dress code.

But, what are all the rules of thumb when it comes to what to wear to a baby shower? We’ve got you covered when it comes to baby shower attire.

How to Choose a Baby Shower Outfit

Ideally, you’ll give yourself a few weeks to choose the right baby shower attire. Baby shower outfits can vary for a lot of reasons, so your best bet is to look at the invitation to get as much information as possible. It might be a simple card, but you can glean a lot about what you should wear from it.

Most importantly, you’ll get a feel for whether it’s a formal dress code, an event that calls for dressy casual attire, or a truly casual occasion. And, when it doubt, you can always ask the host. They’ll appreciate you wanting to look your best for the occasion. If all else fails, keep a few factors in mind as you decide on your baby shower outfit.

Dress Code

We touched on the dress code already, but if a dress code is listed on the invitation, be sure to stick by it. You’ll not only be aligned with the other attendees, but it takes a lot of the guesswork out of choosing your baby shower attire.

If, however, a baby shower dress code isn’t given, there are a few context clues you can use. For example, if you’re attending the event in the evening and having a seated dinner, there’s a good chance you’ll want to opt for something a bit dressier. However, if the event is in the early afternoon and only finger foods will be available, dressy casual attire is likely the way to go.

Venue

Even if there isn’t a specific dress code saying what to wear to a baby shower on the invitation, you can make an inference based on the location. Is it at a fancy restaurant or country club? Choose a dressy-casual outfit. Is it at a church or someone’s home? You can probably be a bit more laid-back with what you wear, but we’d generally avoid wearing jeans, t-shirts, or anything that reads, “I just stopped by while on my way to the grocery store.”

Season

We often think of “wedding season” as the spring and summer. But, people have babies all year! So, you might end up attending a fall or winter baby shower, and you need to dress accordingly.

For spring, flowing maxi dresses with a sweater work well; in summer, your baby shower outfit can be all about the sun dress or a pair of linen pants. If you’re heading to someone’s celebration in fall or winter, think sweater dresses, jumpsuits, and even a nice pair of trousers.

What to Wear to a Baby Shower

Maybe you have a basic idea of what you want your baby shower outfit to be, but you’re not feeling all that inspired.

If you’re not finding anything in your closet that inspires you or you don’t think anything in your wardrobe would be a good fit for the event, treat yourself to a new skirt, dress, blouse, jumpsuit, or pair of pants. Often, you’ll be able to mix and match these items in a variety of ways, so what you choose can be worn for other special occasions, too.

Dresses

No matter the season, you can never go wrong with a dress. Unlike bridal shower attire or wedding dress codes where you don’t want to draw too much attention, baby shower attire has a reputation for being much more vibrant.

This means you can choose bright fabrics; don’t be afraid to play with patterns and florals. As for fabrics, you can experiment based on the season. Try a flowy chiffon for spring and summer. You can even opt for velvet in the fall and winter. Basically, don’t be afraid to play around, but there’s nothing wrong with a simple, monocolored sheath dress either.

Skirts

The great thing about wearing a skirt is that it can be mixed and matched with just about any top, sweater, or jacket. You can dress them up or down and wear them in a million different ways. So, when you’re selecting a skirt for a baby shower, consider how else you might be able to incorporate it into your wardrobe in the future.

Blouses

When it comes to blouses for a baby shower, the options are endless. Dark colors aren’t always the vibe—unless it’s an evening event—so stick to brights and pastels. Try to fit the theme, if possible, but keep your comfort in mind—and consider choosing something you’ll be able to wear again for different occasions to make it a worthwhile investment.

Jumpsuits

Jumpsuits have been on trend for a while now, and things don’t seem to be changing. These single pieces are an all-in-one outfit that you can dress up or down. Plus, they’re easy to wear again for other events like bridal showers and even as work attire, depending on the office dress code. Basically, they’re comfortable, practical, stylish, and fun to wear.

Pants

Finally, if you’re most comfortable in pants, that’s the route you should take for your baby shower outfit. There’s no hard and fast rule that you have to wear a dress or skirt to a baby shower. Do what makes you feel good, as long as you’re fitting with the theme and overall dress code of the party. You can opt for linen, silk, or a cotton twill. There are loads of pant options for a baby shower.

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As you can see, the options are endless when it comes to what to wear to a baby shower. If you were invited, chances are you know the host or the mom-to-be pretty well. So, if all else fails, don’t be afraid to ask about what you should wear.

But, these ideas should give you a starting point if you think your baby shower attire could use a refresh. Have fun with what you wear, keep things simple and beautiful, and focus on comfort and style so you can enjoy your time celebrating the impending arrival of a new little one while you play baby shower games and your heart melts while the new mom opens gifts!