What is the traditional formal outfit worn by many quinceañeras called?

The traditional formal outfit worn by many quinceañeras is called a quinceañera dress.

The dress is usually an elaborate formal gown selected especially for the fifteenth-birthday celebration. Historically and popularly, it may resemble a ball gown, with a full skirt and decorative details. Colors, fabrics, necklines, and silhouettes differ widely, and contemporary celebrants may choose shorter, simpler, or culturally individualized designs.

The gown often forms part of a larger presentation in which the celebrant enters the reception, is introduced to guests, and participates in a formal dance. Some families also include a symbolic change from a more childlike shoe or accessory to a formal one, although this custom is not universal.

The dress can look similar to a bridal gown, but it does not make the event a wedding. The key distinction is the occasion: a quinceañera dress is chosen for a fifteenth-birthday coming-of-age celebration. Regional traditions, personal taste, religious expectations, and family finances all influence how formal or elaborate the outfit becomes.