A Treasure Trove of Birthday Outfits to Wear on Your Big Day
If there were ever an occasion to leave it all on the table sartorially, it’d be your birthday, the one day of the year when all eyes are on you. And that applies to both birthday blowouts and casual affairs. Going the low-key route with a quaint dinner? Slip into a sultry LBD. Staying in for takeout and a movie? Toss on your nicest pajama set (feathers not included but always recommended). If you do decide to go all out on your birthday, take your outfit a step above your normal getups, and leave no eye-catching fashion item behind.
But between snagging a reservation for eight or more (or figuring out where to order takeout from) and choosing who you want to invite, it's likely that time for mood-boarding the perfect birthday look—and subsequently shopping for it—is limited. Don't fret. Since it is your birthday, after all, I thought, Why not? and did both tasks for you. Consider it an early present.
Ahead, find all the fall birthday outfit inspiration you need to start your big day off on a high (fashion) note. And while you're at it, shop your favorite looks, too.
You'll Need: Long-Sleeve Sweater + Matching Midi Skirt + Knee-High Boots
Birthdays can sometimes be stressful, but in this outfit, you're destined for smooth sailing.
You'll Need: Puff-Sleeve Crop Top + Wide-Leg Pants + Pointed-Toe Heels
Is it just me, or do these sleeves scream, "Celebrate!”
You'll Need: Strapless Corset + Matching Trousers
Someone knows how to find their light—and a really good corset.
You'll Need: Oversize Blazer + Brightly Colored Pants + Heeled Sandals + Statement Belt
It's time to bring out your statement pants.
You'll Need: Oversized Leather Blazer + Matching Belt
When it's your birthday, pants are optional.
You'll Need: Cropped Mock-Neck Sweater + Cow-Print Miniskirt + Cowboy Boots
The grown-up version of every Western-themed birthday party look.
You'll Need: Short-Sleeve T-Shirt + Satin Midi Skirt + Knee-High Boots
When your skirt and boots look like this, all you need on top is a really good basic T-shirt to tie your birthday ensemble together.
You'll Need: Long-Sleeve Top + Small Shoulder Bag + Sparkly Pants
If your outfit feels like it's lacking some star factor, add a pair of sparkly trousers. Works every time.
You'll Need: Button-Down + Spaghetti-Strap Minidress + Knee-High Boots + Beret
These boots were made for celebrating.
You'll Need: Printed Short-Sleeve Midi Dress + Strappy Heeled Sandals
Dressing up doesn't have to be high-effort, a point proven by this throw-on-and-go dress-and-sandals combo.
You'll Need: Long-Sleeve Knit Dress + Knee-High Boots
If your birthday falls on the cusp of fall and winter, here's a 10/10 ensemble that'll keep you feeling cozy and looking chic.
You'll Need: Brightly Colored Cardigan + Clashing Ribbed Pants
Birthdays are for daring to wear two saturated colors in one look.
You'll Need: Silk Scarf + Leather Pants
This birthday look is 100% TikTok-approved.
You'll Need: Short-Sleeve Ribbed Maxi Dress + Top-Handle Bag
Whoever said not to wear white after Labor Day 1) didn't have a fall birthday (we can wear what we want!) and 2) clearly hadn't seen this dress.
You'll Need: Spaghetti-Strap Maxi Slip Dress + Statement Earrings
Is there anything better than discovering the birthday dress of your dreams and then finding out it's actually still available?
You'll Need: Oversize Blazer + Mini Slip Dress + Top-Handle Bag
The oversize blazer and neutral bag bring this otherwise summery slip into fall.
You'll Need: Long-Sleeve Midi Dress + Square-Toe Heels + Pearl Jewelry
The best part about this gorgeous body-con is that by swapping out the heels for sneakers or boots, you could easily wear it for any and all of your birthday weekend activities.
You'll Need: Long-Sleeve Pajama Top + Matching Pajama Pants
Because there's nothing wrong with staying in on your birthday. If you do, though, may I suggest these feather-trimmed pj's?
Eliza Huber is a New York City–based fashion editor who specializes in trend reporting, brand discovery, and celebrity style. She joined Who What Wear in 2021 after almost four years on the fashion editorial team at Refinery29, the job she took after graduating with a marketing degree from the University of Iowa. She has since launched two monthly columns, Let's Get a Room and Ways to Wear; profiled the likes of Dakota Fanning, Diane Kruger, Katie Holmes, and Sabrina Carpenter for WWW's monthly cover features; and reported on everything from the relationship between Formula One and fashion to the top trends from fashion month, season after season. Eliza now lives on the Upper West Side and spends her free time researching F1 fashion imagery for her side Instagram accounts @thepinnacleoffashion and @f1paddockfits, running in Central Park, and scouring eBay for '90s Prada and '80s Yves Saint Laurent.
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