Sweet 16

Having a pulse on the dress market, our sweet 16 dresses from major designers to more moderate prices allows for one to have the full range of sweet 16 options. Need a more formal dress for ones sweet 16, then check out our "evening dresses" section, need a more unique dress then check out our "special occasions" section. Whatever ones sweet 16 needs may be, New York Dress offers one of the largest selection of many types of dresses.

Happy sixteenth birthday, gorgeous! What's it feel like to be the center of attention, the heart-stopping belle of the ball? Oh wait, you've been used to that since the day you were born, so a party in your honor is nothing new...except this time around you're definitely going to be the one everybody's watching to set the pace of the evening, so make sure your dress is as memorable as the biggest party of your year!

TRENDS AND HEMS

Sweet Sixteen dresses should be flouncy and innocent, with cinched waists and short hems drawing everyone's gaze. Skirts tend to fall just over the knee, as opposed to dresses cut for slightly older figures, and above all the light colors, thin straps, and classic cuts reveal the whimsical taste of childhood while foreshadowing a growing maturity and worldliness.

Flappers, fifties party girls, and high- and low-cut necklines alike all pull together to do one thing: emphasize that at sixteen, you're coming into your own and developing a great sense of style based on what you see going on in the world around you. Cocktail dresses with ruffles-a-plenty are all the rage at sweet sixteen parties, reminiscent of the roses on the cake that celebrates your big day!

Whether sleeveless or ethereal, club-sharp or beach-laid-back, sweet sixteen dresses give you the chance to show the world who you are and what message you're intent on sending as you graduate to a new phase of your life. This is the last chance you get to be a kid, and the first chance you have to project the gorgeous young lady you plan on becoming.

For an air of sophistication, shimmy into that full length ball gown and add a little formality to the event, or try on a fluttery cocktail dress with beaded details and feel like a fairy princess floating amongst your friends and loved ones.

COLORS AND PATTERNS FOR SWEET SIXTEEN DRESSES

Above all, be BRIGHT! If ever there was a time to banish wallflower blacks to the corner, sweet sixteen is it! You're a flower ready to pop, well-accessorized and dedicated to showing off a developed figure. Smooth skin is always in, and while it's important to match your appearance to the setting and occasion (translation: don't wear a micro-mini and leggings to a family event, but don't make your friends feel out of place by turning up in something Princess Di would have worn either!). Contrast is key, so if you're skin is pale you can go for darker colors while those with a darker complexion can play up golds, whites, and silvers for top marks.

Pick a dress with some patterned lace to bring out the gothic element of your personality, or a light sequin style to glitter under the lights of your celebration. Sweet Sixteeen dresses should make you feel like you stepped out of your own teen soap or reality show; this is the time to splurge on a memory you'll carry with you for the rest of your life!

COMFORT IS KEY

Make sure the dress you're wearing is comfortable and lets your personality shine through. The last thing you want to do is be worried about the wind giving you a "Marilyn Moment," so if you need something short and sporty you should check out a dress that will let you move around without fear of overexposure. Flattering silhouettes that emphasize your fresh, youthful appearance make Sweet Sixteen into a chance to shine. For more formal occasions, longer dresses with an evening flare can bring you to a position of sophistication and ease in your surroundings. Whatever kind of sweet sixteen you have planned, our dresses can help you light it up!

Whether you want to plan your party around a particular dress or select a dress that fits a theme you've had in mind for a while, it's important to look at a wide variety of sweet sixteen dresses before you make your decision. Step outside yourself and imagine the role you want to play on your big night. Will you be a princess or a tease, a flirt or a family girl? See what every different kind of dress says about you and about your ability to change into whatever you want to be, and make sure that you've explored every option before you commit to any one look.

ADD A GROWN-UP FLARE

This is the year for signature accessories, so dressing up a simple dress with a fantastic handbag or clutch while balancing atop the highest heels you can bear to wear will make for a great statement. You might want to pack a spare set of shoes and stash it in a corner in case the heels get uncomfortable, and it's important to make sure both sets of footwear match the dress you've picked to make your special evening perfect.

GET READY TO LOOK AHEAD

While a sweet sixteen dress may be the first major dress purchase of any young woman's life, it is important to think ahead about the way your look will integrate into future events - homecoming, prom, family occasions - and realize that this might be your last chance to try something wild and unpredictable. Take the fullest advantage of everything sweet sixteen has to offer, and enjoy every last moment of your youth while it lasts - enjoy!