Homecoming is a fun event that happens in high school each year.
Besides dressing up in wacky costumes or outfits to support the football team, homecoming usually ends with some sort of dance.
Choosing what to wear at homecoming can be difficult, especially if you plan on attending prom later in the year.
From dress shirts to sneakers, here are five things you should wear to homecoming and five things you should avoid wearing.
What To Wear To Homecoming (5 Ways To Dress)
Homecoming is a formal-casual event, unlike prom which is a formal event.
As such, you can get away with some fashion choices that you wouldn’t be able to do at prom.
Keep these choices in mind to ensure you look your best at homecoming.
1. Button-Up Shirt
Young men can look great in a simple button-up shirt.
While you don’t need to worry about wearing a long tie, you can usually get away with wearing a simple or fun bowtie.
Bowties tend to be more casual than formal, but you can certainly wear them at formal events, too.
Sine bowties offer a bit more fun, you can often find them in amusing prints.
As long as they match your button-up shirt, your choice of bowtie should be fine.
As for the button-up shirt, you should try to keep it fairly formal even if it’s something that’s a bit more relaxed.
For example, you can wear a nice button-up shirt that has some sort of pattern on it, but you want to ensure that the pattern veers toward the classier style.
You can also wear your button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up since it leans towards the casual side.
Young ladies traditionally wear dresses, but you can opt for a button-up shirt as well.
Like with button-up shirts for boys, you’ll want to find something that has a classy print on it or keep to neutral colors.
2. Shorter Dresses
Young ladies, in particular, tend to wear shorter dresses at homecoming than they do at prom.
Prom is where the long formal gowns take the spotlight.
You can think of homecoming as a warm-up for prom.
The dress should land about at your knee.
There’s no shortage of different styles of dresses or fabrics.
That said, you’ll want to lean towards a simple fabric.
Since homecoming is formal-casual, you’ll want to save the more expensive fabrics like silk and velvet for prom.
You can choose a dress that’s a bit more wild or eccentric for homecoming as long as it still looks relatively formal.
For example, you don’t want to pull a Lady Gaga and show up in a meat dress.
If you’re worried about getting cold, you can always pair your dress with some leggings or a thicker pair of tights.
That said, you’re sure to warm up after hitting the dance floor for a few songs.
Because Homecoming takes place sometime in the fall, you might also want to keep fall colors in mind for your dress.
Autumn colors can be gorgeous when allowed to take the spotlight.
Reds, golds, yellows, and even earth tones like darker greens and browns can look great.
One thing to be aware of when choosing a dress is how it looks against your skin tone.
Certain colors can wash an individual out.
Other colors can make them pop and look incredible.
Young ladies will likely find that wearing a shorter dress is quite popular at homecoming.
3. Nice Sweater
Another thing you can wear to homecoming is a nice sweater.
If button-up shirts or dresses aren’t quite your thing, then you can also get away with wearing a nice sweater.
Keep in mind that not every sweater is appropriate for homecoming.
You don’t anything too baggy or loose on you.
That can make you look more casual than formal-casual.
Instead, you’ll want to choose a sweater that fits your form well.
It’s okay if there’s a bit of give or excess, but you don’t want to be swimming in the sweater.
Additionally, you usually want to refrain from wearing a sweater that has some sort of graphic on it.
Designs are usually acceptable, but an actual graphic can also make the sweater lean towards casual rather than formal-casual.
You’ll also want to keep the condition of the sweater in mind.
This isn’t the time to bring out a sweater that has holes in it or is starting to fray.
It should be in good condition.
Boys can dress up their sweaters further by wearing a tie or bowtie with it.
Girls can dress up their sweaters further by wearing a long necklace that hangs over it.
Sweaters are a great choice if your homecoming takes place on an especially chilly day.
If your school tends to have its homecoming in late October, for example, then it can get pretty chilly at night.
A sweater is a great choice to look nice while also keeping warm.
A variant of the sweater, a sweater jacket, is only acceptable if you’re keeping the jacket open and have something nice under it.
For example, girls can wear a nice shorter dress with a sweater jacket over their shoulders.
Boys can wear a nice shirt and tie underneath a sweater jacket.
The sweater jacket should not come without a hood since that pushes it into the hoodie category.
Sweaters are a great option to wear at homecoming for both boys and girls.
4. Sneakers Or Flats
Choosing what type of shoes to wear can also be quite difficult.
Footwear guidelines for homecoming are a bit looser than they are for prom.
That said, there are always some things to avoid, too.
Boys can get away with wearing sneakers provided that they are nice sneakers.
You’ll want to stay away from pairs of sneakers that have bright neon graphics, for example.
You’ll also want to stay away from sneakers that depict anything vulgar.
Instead, the best option is to choose a pair of sneakers that are strictly color-based.
They shouldn’t have any graphics on them.
It’s also important to ensure the sneakers are clean.
This is what separates formal-casual from casual.
Dirty sneakers are for casual events only.
Formal-casual sneakers look as though they came right out of the box.
While dress shoes or loafers are always the best options for any dance, you can get away with wearing sneakers at homecoming.
Girls can also wear sneakers, but it’s usually better to wear flats.
Flats are comfortable shoes since they don’t come with a heel.
Like sneakers, there are a few rules to keep in mind when choosing your flats.
For one, you also don’t want your flats to be dirty.
This isn’t a time when you wear your usual flats.
Your flats should look fresh and clean.
You’ll also want to keep the color of those flats in mind, too, to ensure they match the rest of your outfit.
Otherwise, your feet might stick out like a sore thumb.
Finally, although it’s rare, some flats come with graphic designs.
You’ll want to avoid wearing those.
Instead, choose a simple, neutral pair of flats to look your best.
5. Dress Pants Or A Skirt
The final piece of clothing to consider wearing at homecoming is dress pants or a skirt.
For boys, and some girls who aren’t comfortable wearing a dress, dress pants are a must at homecoming.
It’s what pushes your overall outfit from casual to formal-casual.
Dress pants come in all styles and materials, too.
You can find dress pants that simulate jeans but are far superior.
Most dress pants are quite simplistic in design and favor darker shades.
Because of the slight lean towards casual, you do have some room for experimentation.
For example, you could try and wear white dress pants as long as it goes with the rest of your outfit.
You should, however, stay away from bright, neon colors.
Those push the outfit too much towards the casual side.
You also don’t want people to mistake your outfit for a Halloween costume.
Dress pants can come with pockets or without them.
If you plan on taking photos, then it’s better to find dress pants with pockets, so you can store your phone in them.
Along with your dress pants, you’ll need to choose an appropriate belt.
Stay away from graphic belts and gaudy belt buckles.
Instead, choose a simple black or neutral-tone belt with an equally simple belt buckle.
For girls, you can also choose to wear a skirt if you’re not wearing a dress.
Skirts might feel a bit cold during homecoming, but they’re an appropriate choice of clothing.
You don’t want to go too short on the skirt, however, as that can be too casual.
You’ll also want to stick with neutral tones instead of choosing a skirt that has some sort of graphic on it.
You can couple your skirt with some tights or leggings as long as it matches the rest of your outfit.
What Not To Wear To Homecoming
Knowing what not to wear at homecoming is just as important as knowing what to wear.
To ensure you don’t get kicked out of the event or make a faux pas, keep these clothes in mind when considering what not to wear.
1. Longer Dresses
Girls should avoid wearing long dresses for homecoming.
Long dresses are primarily worn during prom.
It’s a time when elegant and beautiful dresses take the spotlight.
As such, you’ll want to save any long-train dresses or dresses that go down to your ankles for prom.
Instead, focus on wearing shorter dresses for homecoming.
In addition, you’ll also want to keep other elements of long dresses reserved for prom, too.
Long silk gloves, for example, are better saved for prom.
Keep more expensive materials like silk and velvet for prom as well.
By keeping your dress shorter at homecoming, you hit the right note for a formal-casual event.
2. Full Suit
Boys should also refrain from wearing a full suit to homecoming.
You’ll want to save your tuxedos and three-piece suits for prom.
Since homecoming is formal-casual, you can lose some parts of a full suit.
For example, you can still wear a nice shirt and vest, but you shouldn’t come with a jacket.
You can even simply wear a nice shirt and tie.
Prom is typically when you wear a full suit.
At prom, you need a nice dress shirt, vest, tie, and jacket that brings it all together.
You’ll also want to avoid wearing certain fabrics.
A silk vest, for example, is better for prom than it is for homecoming.
The same goes for a velvet jacket.
To look your best at homecoming, you’ll want to refrain from wearing a full suit.
3. Jerseys
Perhaps one of the biggest faux pas choices you can make is to wear a jersey to homecoming.
While homecoming is usually a celebration of football and your school’s successes in sports, it doesn’t mean you should wear athletic clothes to the dance.
Even if you’re the star quarterback or star player, you should not wear your jersey to homecoming.
For one, jerseys are smelly, dirty, and not at all formal.
They’re strictly casual.
Even if you wear a suit jacket over the jersey, it isn’t going to suddenly make your outfit formal-casual.
A jersey is too casual.
This goes for young ladies, too.
You’ll also want to refrain from wearing a jersey or cheerleading outfit to homecoming.
Even if the dance celebrates athletes, those sorts of outfits aren’t appropriate.
To ensure you look your best, refrain from wearing a jersey or similar clothing to homecoming.
4. Sweatpants
Another piece of clothing you should avoid wearing at homecoming is sweatpants.
While the cooler temperatures may tempt you to put on a pair of sweatpants, it’s something you need to avoid.
Sweatpants are for casual occasions alone.
They’re baggy and comfortable, but they do not look great for formal-casual events like homecoming.
If you swear sweatpants to a homecoming dance, then you’re going to look like a slob.
Even if the sweatpants bear your school’s logo, you shouldn’t wear them.
The only exception is if you’re wearing them when you come to the dance and leave.
If it’s just a transitional piece of clothing, then that’s acceptable.
At the actual event, however, you should refrain from wearing sweatpants.
5. Jeans
A final piece of clothing to avoid wearing at homecoming is a pair of jeans.
Jeans are often the go-to choice for any social event.
Some jeans even look quite nice and may even be mistaken for dress pants.
However, jeans are inherently for casual events.
They’re not meant for formal-casual events.
Even if the jeans look like dress pants, you should refrain from wearing them.
Jeans tend to also make you look like a slob.
At the very least, it gives the impression that you did the bare minimum to dress up for homecoming.
If you want to look your best, then you should avoid wearing jeans.
This is especially true for jeans that have holes in them.
Whether they’re designed to look that way or they’ve deteriorated from a lot of use, holes in jeans are not formal-casual.
They’re strictly casual.
As such, you should not wear them to homecoming.
Conclusion
Homecoming is a formal-casual event, which can make dressing up for it difficult sometimes.
By following the examples given above, you can find the perfect outfit that will stun at homecoming while still leaving room to up your game for prom.
