Quinceanera Girls Take A Modern Approach

By: Kyle Wessler

In times past, the traditional Quinceanera gown had to play strictly by the rules. While the dress was pretty, it wasn't really up to date with the latest fashions. Over time, the rules governing a Quince girl's dress, hair, and shoes have loosened up. Today, a gown can be anything the girl wishes - sleek and stylish, or charmingly vintage and contemporary.

Fashion experts say that while Quinceanera gowns are known for their traditional appeal and style, there's still some "wiggle room" to bring in hints and accents of the latest styles.

"You can take the princess look that was popular last fall," says Roslyn Flores, a teen fashion consultant, "and marry that to the traditional Quinceanera dress structure. There's really no limit to what a clever Quince girl can create for herself and her damas."

Dress merchants say they're seeing a lot of demands for the simple combination of classic styling with modern accents. "You'll see a traditional ball gown, but with the rucked skirt that's so common with the "princess" look," Flores says. "And that's great. That kind of creativity shows that the girls are getting very savvy about combining cultures."

Experts say teenage Latinas have a greater exposure to more mainstream fashion culture, thanks to cable television shows like MTV's My Super Sweet 16 and Bravo's Project: Runway. As their awareness of styles and fashions grows, girls preparing for their Quinceanera fiesta want to show their new maturity by using their gown's designs.

One popular approach involves using bold colors. While the traditional Quince girl's designated color is the old-fashioned girly pink, more and more colors are filling the Quinceanera racks.

"White, light blue, and pink are still the colors most young girls prefer," says fashion expert Alicia Hernandez, "But there's still plenty of room in terms of shade. Pink, for instance, has shades of rose, pastel, cherry blossom, just to name a few."

"And light blue has a whole spectrum: aquamarine, turquoise, baby blue, and so on."
Hairstyles and shoes are also subject to modern makeover expertise. For some young Quince girls, the celebration is a chance to have a complete makeover, with a new appearance that highlights her new maturity. 
 
"Nothing announces a new attitude like a new hairstyle," says Maria Chavez, an Atlanta-area hairstylist. "For young girls, especially around the age of fifteen and sixteen, getting an adult hairstyle lets them step completely into their new identity." The new hairstyle can be something of the girl's own imagination, or - more likely - something taken from celebrity and fashion magazines.

Deciding on the shoes to wear also makes a big difference. The tradition of the father changing his daughter's shoes remains popular, even if the shoes themselves have changed. Some Quince girls wear flip-flops to the party, which signify the comfort of childhood. At the fiesta, they change into sandals or heels, to show their new maturity.

Finally, the choice of jewelry also makes a big impression. Experts say that tiaras and crowns that are simple and without gaudy flash make the biggest impression.  The "less is more" approach works best when picking out the fine clothes for any sophisticated ensemble.