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May birthday guide

May Birthday Outfit Ideas: White, Soft Green, and Blue and White

A May birthday gets the best of spring: long light evenings, patios and gardens in bloom. Below: two looks, blue and white, May colours, how the date changes the outfit, and quick answers. Every dress is real, with the price the retailer showed when we checked.

By Clara Hart· First published · 5 min read

Hello Molly — Honeyed Petals Satin Maxi Dress Cream
Hello Molly · A cream satin slip maxi with small 3D rosettes scattered over the skirt.US$145.95Find dresses like this for you Details

Look 01

White and ivory“lily of the valley, in satin”

  • Cream and ivory look warmer than bright white
  • Gold or pearl jewellery
  • Nude or gold sandals

Wear it to

  • Birthday dinner
  • Patio or rooftop
  • Garden celebration
Why it works

Lily of the valley is May's birth flower, and white is the month's easiest colour: fresh in daylight and bright against green. At your own birthday, a white dress is never a problem.

More for this look

  • JW PEI — White Floral Lace Halterneck Maxi Dress
    JW PEIC$226

    A white floral maxi with a high halter neck and a rosette at the collar.

    Details
  • Babyboo — Kirsten Gown Ivory
    BabybooC$327

    A white satin halter gown with a plunge neckline and a long train: for a formal dinner.

    Details
  • Get white picks for your budget
House of CB — Salma Chartreuse Satin Slip Dress
House of CB · A chartreuse satin midi with a front-laced corset waist and lace trim at the neckline and hem.US$255Find dresses like this for you Details

Look 02

Soft green“May's emerald, made easy”

  • Sage and olive flatter more people than bright green
  • Gold jewellery
  • Tan or gold sandals

Wear it to

  • Birthday dinner
  • Patio or garden
  • Wine bar
Why it works

Emerald is May's traditional birthstone. Sage, olive and chartreuse are the softer way to wear green, and they look lovely outdoors. A midi or a maxi in satin keeps it dressy.

More for this look

  • Revolve — Sndys Angelina Neck Tie Maxi Dress in Olive
    RevolveC$184.79

    A sage satin strapless maxi with a straight neckline and a hem just above the ankle.

    Details
  • Princess Polly — Sadee Maxi Dress Sage
    Princess PollyC$141

    A sage satin maxi with a ruched off-the-shoulder band and a long, bias-cut skirt.

    Details
  • Get green picks for your budget

Blue and white

Blue and white looks crisp in May sunshine. Choose a pale blue dress with white details, or a plain blue dress with white shoes and a white bag.

Get blue picks for your budget

May birthday colours

May's birthstone and birth flower give you three easy colour ideas:

  • Emerald and sage

    Day & night

    Emerald is May's traditional birthstone. Deep green for night, sage and olive for day.

    See picks

  • Lily white

    Day & night

    From May's birth flower, lily of the valley: white, cream and ivory.

    See picks

  • Powder blue

    Day

    With white, it makes the blue-and-white look for a sunny afternoon.

    See picks

Patios, long weekends and Mother's Day

  • Early May Warm afternoons, cool evenings: a maxi or midi with a light jacket or a trench.
  • Mother's Day weekend The second Sunday in May, in both Canada and the US. If your birthday shares a family lunch, book your own dinner on another night, or wear a midi that works for both.
  • Late May Victoria Day in Canada and Memorial Day in the US mean long weekends: patios, a trip or a garden. Bare legs and sandals; pack one long dress that works for dinner.

May birthdays fall under two star signs; see our Taurus (to May 20) and Gemini (from May 21) guides. For the month before, see our April birthday outfit ideas; for a garden or lunch plan, our birthday brunch dresses. For the whole season, see our spring birthday outfit ideas.

Questions people ask

What should I wear for a May birthday?

A white or ivory dress, a soft green one, or blue and white, in a long satin dress or a midi. Bare legs and sandals usually work in May; bring a light jacket for the evening.

What colours suit a May birthday outfit?

Emerald and softer greens like sage and olive (May's birthstone is emerald), white and ivory, and powder blue with white. They all look fresh outdoors.

What is the birthstone colour for May?

May's traditional birthstone is emerald, a deep green. A sage or olive dress is the easy version; emerald earrings with a white dress is another way to wear it.

Can I wear white to my own birthday in May?

Yes. White, cream and ivory look fresh in May and photograph well outdoors. The only time to skip white is at someone else's wedding.

Long evenings, long dresses

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