A sweet 16 party is a common custom for many American girls. Often times, this is a huge party filled with live music, dancing, and birthday presents. In Hispanic cultural tradition, they hold a big celebration at fifteen years of age, and refer to the occasion as a Quincea?era. The word Quincea?era has a dual meaning, as the title bestowed on the girl when she reaches age 15, as well as referring to the sweet 15 party itself. Sweet 15 dresses are one of the night's most important elements, the same as they are in the celebration's American version.

The traditional colors for sweet 15 dresses have always been either white or pink. These days, though, the Quincea?era chooses the make of her dress as well as its color. Having this in mind, sweet 15 dressmakers use every color imaginable in designing these gowns, providing the birthday girl with a much wider selection, and making the night even more unforgettable.

A sweet 15 dress is form fitting around the upper body, and then is large and flared out from the waist down. The design highlights the fact that the Quincea?era is not a ni'a (girl) anymore, but is now a se?orita (miss), although she won't be called a se?orita socially until she reaches the age of twenty one. The Quincea?era is a party celebrating the transition of a girl from being a child into being a woman, and the dress worn should exhibit this fact. The dress shows off the birthday girl's sexy womanhood without offending the older generation.

The sweet 15 dress should be charming and quaint in appearance, being in the style of a flowing ball gown with its beautifully appealing Spanish motifs, but sufficiently practical so that one is able to dance in it. A large part of a sweet 15 party is the dancing. The Quinceanera dances with her father, Godfather, and Chambelan, her personal escort and date for the celebration. Today, it is probable that there will be a fast dance involving the girl's friends. This is why the sweet 15 dress should be versatile, eye catching to everyone present, and give the girl a princess-like appearance, but without an overly restrictive fit that would reduce her ability to dance.