To wear white for someone's 30th?

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I have an amazing dress. It's a mini dress, not a ball gown or anything, but I feel a bit awkward wearing it because I don't want to look like an attempt to take attention away from the person whose birthday it is. Is this ridiculous?

Should you keep your outfit tame for a big birthday out of respect for the birthday person, or is it not like a wedding in that respect? I'm also considering a white dress.

It's a birthday party, not a wedding?

I think it's fine? Only weddings are no white.

Fine. Wear it!

White is on trend so it's got to be worn somewhere.

Emily Maitliss wore white for the Republican Party Congress-reckon it's OK for a 30th.....

You should go naked. It's the only way to avoid an embarrassing fashion faux pas.

Why wouldn't a white mini dress be ok?

I wasn't sure if big birthdays have any etiquette like weddings - ie tone down to not 'upstage' anyone or no white

Only if you assume you'll look better than her could it be 'upstaging' 😂

You're massively overthinking this.

Fwiw, I'm in my 30s (okay, late 30s), and I can't remember what I wore to my own 30th birthday party, never mind anyone else. It's really no big deal in the grand scheme.

@Chickenoiii 😂😂😂 I actually don't but I do like to dress up if given the opportunity which some would call OTT

I'm intrigued now, do you have a photo of the dress?

But why would the colour white upstage anyone? White is just a perfectly ordinary colour when there's no wedding dress in the mix!

Why would a white dress be associated with a 30th birthday? It’s not a celebration of virginity, is it?

You do know that the ‘no white to weddings’ rule is a daft one so that nobody mistakes you for the bride? (Stupid because the bride can be easily identified by being the one by the altar, taking the vows, more often than not dressed like a meringue).

I want to see a picture of the dress (purely because I am nosy)

I can't imagine how it could be inappropriate though. I would be chuffed if my friend dressed up for my birthday (and perfectly happy if they didn't!), I fear you are overthinking it. The prohibition on white really is just for weddings.

I wasn't sure if big birthdays have any etiquette like weddings
Have you never been to a birthday party before? Turn up with a card and present, eat some cake and it's all good.

I suppose it depends on the general vibe - if it's a late afternoon BBQ where everybody else will be hanging out in shorts or capris or something, then yeah, turning up glammed out in a white mini dress could be seen as a bit outré, but if it's an evening cocktail party or pre-club get together, then knock yourself out.

As long as in keeping with the vibe of the occasion, colour and style doesn't matter - just bear in mind really short can be "look at me" but it varies by person too.

Not wearing white to weddings is because the bride will be the only one wearing that colour.If you're friend is wearing a £1000 pink sequin dress on her 30th birthday then maybe don't wear your £1000 pink sequin dress too, but otherwise, I think most people are really pleased when people dress up and look amazing at their parties. Who doesn't like to think they have elegant/cool friends

Completely unreasonable. You can't wear white to a 30th, blue to a 40th, a head band to a 37th or anything with spots to a 53rd. Everyone knows these rules.

I actually thought this was serious for a moment 😂

Wear what you like.

Preferably treat it like any other birthday- don't fall for the nonsense of 'big birthdays' which are just a way of trying to get you to spend more money. A phrase that should be consigned to history.