Here at Dress for the Wedding, we love all kinds of special events and special occasion dressing, not just weddings! That's why this year we've vicariously headed back to high school, by looking at the best homecoming dresses for this season of celebrations.
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Shopping sources and image credits: 1. Burgundy Sequin Mini from Windsor 2. Teal Green Satin Lace Up Mini from Lulus 3. Rita Dress One Shoulder Orange Sequin Dress from Lady Black Tie 4. Turquoise Teal Body Con Dress from Lulus
The Best Homecoming Dresses for 2024
Finding the perfect homecoming dress adds to the excitement of celebrating with your friends. It's the first chance of the school year to dress up and create unforgettable memories. Finding the perfect outfit or dress just goes hand in hand with enjoying yourself and feeling your best!
Today we'll show you our picks for the best homecoming dresses we've seen this season! We'll show you over 75 options we found, plus more ideas for homecoming dresses by color, style, and also other ideas for those who don't want dresses at all!
Top Homecoming Dress Trends for 2024
We picked the following homecoming dresses based on a few things. Either we loved the style, the color, we feel the look is very on-trend, it's a unique look, or we just feel it's a gorgeous dress!
Here are a few of the trends we're seeing in 2024 that you might want to consider for your homecoming look.
Pink Party Dresses
This pastel pink and hot pink are showing up in fashion trends everywhere, and pink undeniably has been having a big moment in the spotlight since the Barbie movie. Fun, voluminous, and bright pink dresses like this one with corset style bodice dresses are really popular thanks to those romantic and demure trends from romantic influences like Bridgerton. This dress is from Windsor.
Unique Sequins
Sequins are always a standard in homecoming and party dresses in general. Still, this season we're seeing sequins in gorgeous colors like deep green, dark blue, multicolor, and iridescent white, and sequins in rich fall tones like this burnt orange one-shoulder mini from Lady Black Tie.
Dress for the Wedding readers can save 5% on purchases at Lady Black Tie with code DRESSFOR5 through 12/31//24.
Fringe
One of the looks we're most excited about this season is the fringed dresses we're seeing. They give a bit of a 1920 retro style. They offer a bit of interesting movement and detail that is sure to be a great look while dancing.
Longer Lengths
Hoco dresses are notorious for being super short mini dresses hitting the mid-thigh, but we're starting to see a bit more of a cocktail-length dress at the knee or even a midi with a thigh-high leg slit takes over as a popular look. If you're not afraid to break the mold of wearing the super short homecoming dress, check out these midi and tea-length styles for wedding guests, that could also work for homecoming dresses for those seeking a longer style.
Satin Styles
We are seeing lots of draped satin cocktail dresses this fall and we love the look for homecoming. After all, since it's an autumn celebration, a little more coverage can be nice! We love this high neck style contrasted with a short mini.
Corset Styles
As we mentioned, the coquette corset style dress has really taken off and is trending this season. There are so many corset-style homecoming styles this year. Some show the actual boning underneath like this one, while others just give the look but keep the supportive corset under a layer of fabric.
Bubble Skirts
The short and sweet style of party dress gets even more fun when you add a little volume! We adore this bubble hem style from Lulus.
Tiered Skirts
Tiered skirts are trending in longer lengths, and they also look so cute when done in a short style like this!
New Colors
We're seeing some new colors in the palette for hoco dresses for 2024. In particular, we love the addition of light blues, greens, and orange.
Periwinkle Mini Dress
This dreamy periwinkle blue that is the perfect mix between purple and light blue.
Sage Green Mini
Just like in bridal and prom, sage and mint green are also very popular for the 2024 season.
Coral and Orange
Orange and coral are also great alternatives to the typical pink and red dresses, and they have the added bonus of being a very appropriate and festive color for fall celebrations.
Classic Little Black Dresses
You can never go wrong with a little black cocktail dress. It's a sophisticated style that you won't regret and might be able to wear again!
Best Places to Shop For Homecoming Dresses Online
Buying a homecoming dress online is a great idea for several reasons. First, of course, you can get the best selection online. You aren't limited to the stores in your area. You can also generally find dresses in all sizes and prices so that if you find a dress at one store you can see if you can find it for less, or in a different color and get the ideal dress.
While it can be daunting to buy something online, a HoCo dress is often somewhat affordable and a low-investment piece, so the risk is low and most online retailers make returns easy. Best of all, you can get input before you buy your dress from our friends and family, and read reviews.
Some places like Amazon, do the "try before you buy" option where you have a window for return. It's a great way to try on a bunch of styles with your friends from the comfort of your home.
Here are some of our suggestions for where to shop online for a homecoming dress:
- Lady Black Tie has a gorgeous selection of short mini-dresses that are perfect for homecoming. They always have the latest styles including sequin dresses, corset dresses and embellished styles in gorgeous colors. Use code DRESSFOR5 to save 5% at Lady Black Tie.
- Dillard's has over 900 homecoming dresses to choose from and plenty of short sequin styles, fit and flare styles, and other trends. They carry labels like B Darlin and Honey and Rosie that offer top trends at a price point that is usually under $100.
- Lulus is one of our favorite spots for dresses for any kind of event, and their homecoming dress selection is fantastic. So many on-trend styles for under $100.
- Windsor is a company we haven't featured before but we hear it's a great place to shop for homecoming dresses. Affordable, flashy fitted styles featuring the latest trends
- Hello Molly this is an Australian retailer that we feature quite a bit because we love their styles for bachelorette party dresses. If you want a dress that has a bit of a different style and sophistication, this is a great place to look!
- Asos If you want a dress that is a bit different and unique then Asos is a good spot to look. Asos is a European brand, and as such they don't label their party dresses as homecoming dresses per se, but it's a
- Amazon is such a hot for those who are seeking affordable dresses, so naturally, they have some great styles
- ModCloth If you want a homecoming dress that has a bit of vintage style, Mod Cloth is a great place to look Mod Cloth dresses generally have some unique touches and are more size-inclusive than some other companies.
- Nordstrom has classic homecoming dress styles for under $100, plus they carry designer names like Dress the Population and Mac Duggal if you're looking for the ultimate cocktail dress
Other Places to Buy Your Perfect Homecoming Dress
There are many spots to look for and buy the best homecoming dress. As a website, we only have access to share other online sources, so we tend to look for dresses and try to find the best online shops.
That said, we also love small businesses. You may already have a favorite store or boutique in your area, that carries a fantastic selection of dresses. Definitely check our their selection to see what they have that will work for finding your perfect homecoming dress.
If your local bridal boutique carries prom and bridesmaid dresses, chances are they also do homecoming dresses. Looking at your local wedding boutique is a also great place to start, as they usually do carry special order dresses.
You might also have luck finding just the right dress at your favorite stores at the mall, or stores like TJ Maxx, Nordstrom Rack, or Marshall's. Certainly, nothing beats being able to try on your dress and leave with it right that day!
Do You Wear a Short or Long Dress to Homecoming?
In most cases, long formal gowns are reserved for prom events, but if you are in the homecoming court or if your school or group of friends has decided longer gowns are the look, then feel free to browse some of those styles!
What to Wear for Homecoming
Homecoming dresses are all about finding that perfect mix of your own personal style, along with a dress you are drawn to and can't wait to wear.
Generally, most homecoming events and dances are semi-formal events, so a shorter dress, often at or below the knee is what we commonly see. Pair that length with a dressy fabric like satin, sequins, or stretch lace, in a color and silhouette you love and you'll be set to go.
Of course, if dresses aren't your style, any kind of semi-formal look should work with your school's dress code. Here are some of the dressy jumpsuits we love.
For guys, we see guys going all out with suits and ties, while some schools are slightly less formal, and we see either dress pants, shirts, and ties, or suits with a dress shirt and no tie.
Typically the attire guidelines are sort of selected by the school and the general consensus among your friends what their style will be, along with any fun and creative ideas you and your friends might have for homecoming attire.
Where to Find Suits and Dress Shirts and Ties for Homecoming
If you're looking for a suit, shirt, and tie to wear to homecoming, we saw that Men's Wearhouse has a special combination deal for homecoming featuring a suit,tie, and dress shirt combination. If you don't need all of these items, getting a tie, shirt, or suit from a major department store is usually a great option. Macy's Nordstrom as well as TJ Maxx and Marshalls are good spots to look for ties and shirts.
When to Shop for Homecoming Dresses
Early fall is the best season to look for dresses since most coming games come up quickly in early October or sooner! Shopping almost as soon as school goes back in session is a great idea. However, if you wait until the last minute, most of the online stores ship quickly, so you won't be waiting too long before you get your dress.
No matter what you choose to wear to homecoming, have a safe fun, and happy time celebrating with friends!
Past Seasons
Here are some dresses we highlighted last year for the 2023 Homecoming Season. They are likely to be out of stock, but we keep the image and credits for source continuity.
Feature image and shopping credits: 1. One Shoulder Iridescent Sequin Dress from Lulus 2. Wendy Floral Sequin Party Dress from Windsor 3. Frill for You Satin Dress by Hello Molly
