What Types of Clothes Do Teens Wear to Homecoming Dances?

Almost every teen looks forward to homecoming dance each year; it's a prelude to prom. Girls and boys get to dress up, go out and dance the night away. Aside from worrying about who is going to ask whom to the dance and whether or not you should chaperone the dance and potentially risk your teen's life-long embarrassment over having mom and dad at the same social function, what to wear is the biggest concern for most teens. While all schools are different, most have a pretty similar set of rules when it comes to the homecoming dance dress code.

A high school couple being photographed before homecoming. (Image: Digital Vision./Photodisc/Getty Images)

Decoding the Dress Code

The vast majority of high schools ask that those attending the homecoming dance dress in either formal or semi-formal attire. Typically, this information is provided on homecoming dance tickets or invitations. The clothes your teen wears to homecoming will depend largely on whether or not her school's homecoming is considered formal or semi-formal. If she doesn't know and you cannot find the information anywhere, call the school and ask to speak to whoever is in charge of planning the dance.

Semi-Formal Attire for Males

According to EmilyPost.com, a website filled with tips about etiquette, dressing your son in semi-formal clothes means dressing him in a suit and tie. For a semi-formal homecoming dance, your son should wear a suit. It should be a dark color, such as navy, brown or black. He should wear a dress shirt, a tie, dress socks and dark-colored dress shoes. A vest is optional when it comes to semi-formal attire.

Semi-Formal Attire for Girls

Semi-formal wear for girls can range anywhere from a dressy skirt and jacket to a cocktail dress, according to EmilyPost.com. To keep in tune with the dress code for a semi-formal homecoming dance, your daughter can wear an afternoon cocktail dress, a little black dress or even a suit. She should wear heels.

Formal Attire

Formal attire is also called black-tie attire. According to EmilyPost.com, your child should dress up as much as possible for this. Boys should wear a dark suit or even a tuxedo, a white dress shirt, dress shoes, a conservative necktie and dress socks. Girls should wear a formal floor-length gown, a dressy cocktail dress, a little black dress and formal accessories such as high heels, panty hose and an evening bag.

School Dress-Code Policies

Typically, most schools require that students abide by certain dress codes even if the attire is listed as formal or semi-formal. For example, Chopticon High School in Maryland requires that students wear formal clothing to homecoming but it also has rules for formal wear. Chopticon administration does not allow formal wear that is low cut in the front or back for girls, no plunging necklines, no slits that extend more than four inches above the knee, no bare stomachs and no dresses with cut-out designs anywhere. Boys cannot wear baggy pants or jeans. Check with your teen's school to see if they have addendums to the rule of formal or semi-formal attire before taking your teen shopping for a homecoming ensemble.