What to wear
What to wear to a baby shower
Comfortable, cheerful and ready for the group photo.
The short answer
Wear smart casual clothes you can relax in: a sundress or knit midi dress, a blouse with trousers or a skirt, or chinos with a button-down or polo. Cheerful colors and soft prints fit most showers. Follow any theme on the invitation, and choose comfortable flats, sandals or loafers.
Usual dress code: Smart casual
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Before you get dressed
Baby showers are usually relaxed daytime parties at a home, a restaurant or a community room, with food, games and gift opening. What to wear to a baby shower mostly comes down to comfort and cheer: you'll likely sit on a sofa, hover near the snack table and play a game or two. Aim for neat and friendly, a step up from weekend errands but well below a wedding.
Showers come in many forms now: co-ed parties, sprinkles for a second or third baby, gender reveals and quick celebrations at the office. Each one shifts the dress code a little. Invitations sometimes set a theme or color, like pastels, a storybook or pink and blue for a reveal. This guide covers guest outfits for every setting, plus a short note for the parent-to-be, who deserves comfort above everything else.
Baby shower: outfits for women
Easy dresses, soft knits and comfortable separates are ideal. Choose fabrics that breathe and don't crease every time you sit. Flats, sandals or low block heels are all you need.
- Weekend shower: a printed cotton midi dress, a denim jacket and flat sandals.
- Restaurant brunch: a silky blouse, tailored ankle trousers and loafers or low heels.
- Backyard: a linen shirtdress, espadrille flats and sunglasses.
- Plus-size: a knit midi dress with a relaxed A-line shape and pockets, a light cardigan and cushioned flats.
- Petite: cropped straight-leg trousers with a fitted knit top in the same color and pointed flats to keep your frame long.
- Tall: a jersey maxi dress, a cropped cardigan and flat leather sandals; the long line suits your height.
Baby shower: outfits for men
Think weekend-nice: chinos, a polo or an oxford shirt, and loafers or leather sneakers. When it's cool or the party is at a restaurant, a sweater or unstructured blazer finishes the look. Leave the tie at home.
- Daytime shower: a sage or light blue knit polo, stone chinos and white leather sneakers.
- Restaurant: an oxford shirt, dark chinos or wool trousers and suede loafers, with an optional unstructured blazer.
- Backyard in summer: a short-sleeve linen or camp-collar shirt, chino shorts that hit just above the knee if the invitation is casual, and leather sneakers.
- Big & tall: a solid knit polo with a longer body, straight-leg chinos and leather sneakers; the extra length sits cleanly untucked.
- Cool weather: a merino quarter-zip or crewneck over a collared shirt, dark jeans or chinos, and chukka boots.
Color
Colors to wear and to skip
Wear
Soft pastels, cheerful brights, gentle florals and warm neutrals all work. Sage, butter yellow, lavender and soft blue are popular gender-neutral choices.
Skip
No color is off-limits at a baby shower. Skip big logos, slogans and neon athletic colors, which look more like errands than a party.
The most flattering version of any color is the one that suits your own coloring. Find your color season to know which shades to wear near your face.
Details
Things to consider
Venue
A living room, a restaurant, a church hall and a backyard each set a slightly different tone. Match the host: if the invitation feels formal or the venue is upscale, go a notch dressier.
Theme or color
Invitations often include a theme or a palette. Wear it in one piece, like a top or a scarf, rather than head to toe.
Games, food and kids
Showers can include frosting, toddlers and a craft table for decorating baby clothes. Choose washable fabrics, avoid pale silk, and skip long, floaty sleeves that drag through the dip.
Co-ed showers and sprinkles
When partners and friends of every gender are invited, the dress code usually settles at smart casual. Sprinkles, smaller parties for a second or later baby, tend to be even more relaxed.
For the parent-to-be
Plan for comfort over hours of hugs and gift opening: stretch fabrics, a waist that doesn't dig in and flat shoes. Keep a spare pair of shoes nearby in case your feet swell.
Etiquette
Do's and don'ts
Do
- Ask the host if the party is indoors or out so you can plan shoes and layers.
- Pick an outfit you can sit in on a sofa or folding chair.
- Wear flats or low heels you can stand in during games.
- Carry a light layer, since community rooms and restaurants can run cold.
- Wear a top you won't mind a little drool on if there are babies to hold.
Don't
- Don't wear cocktail attire, like a sequined dress or a suit and tie.
- Don't wear ripped jeans, gym clothes or flip-flops unless the host says the party is casual.
- Don't wear a strong fragrance, since pregnant people can be sensitive to scent.
- Don't pick shoes you'll want to kick off within the first hour.
- Don't wear anything too short or low-cut to crouch for photos or play floor games.
Questions
Baby shower outfit FAQ
Can you wear white to a baby shower?
Yes. Unlike a bridal shower, a baby shower has no rule against white, and a white sundress or linen trousers look fresh at a daytime party. Just watch for spills if there's cake or a craft table. If you know the parent-to-be is wearing white, a light color or print keeps you from matching in photos.
Can you wear jeans to a baby shower?
Yes, at most baby showers. Dark or mid-wash jeans with a nice blouse, knit top or button-down are fine at a home or backyard shower. For a restaurant, tea room or country club shower, choose trousers, a skirt or a dress. Skip distressed or ripped denim.
What should you wear to a gender reveal party?
Follow the host's color request if there is one. Many ask guests to wear pink or blue to show a guess, or a neutral if they'd rather not choose. Otherwise, dress smart casual as you would for a shower, with comfortable shoes if the reveal happens outdoors.
What should men wear to a baby shower?
Most men wear smart casual to a baby shower: a polo or casual button-down with chinos or dark jeans, and loafers or leather sneakers. In cooler weather, a crewneck sweater or quarter-zip over a collared shirt looks put together. Skip the suit and tie; they read as overdressed for a daytime party with games.
What should you wear to your own baby shower?
Something comfortable that makes you feel celebrated. A wrap or maxi dress, a maternity midi, or soft trousers with a flowy top all photograph well. Since you'll be the center of most photos, a solid color or simple print works best. Many choose white, pastels or the theme color, but any color you love is right.
What should you wear to a baby shower at work?
Your usual work clothes. Office showers are usually short gatherings in a conference room or break room, so business casual is right. If there's a color theme, add it with a top, a tie or a scarf. There's no need to change into party clothes; a cheerful accessory is enough.
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