Pageant dresses can take on different styles. For the outdoors, trendy outfits definitely make a difference. Interaction with the judges would involve more demure kind of clothing such as skirt suits or pant suits or may be even a smart looking dress. One could ... resort to wearing a traditional type of outfit that is from the country of origin e.g. an Indian could wear a sari or a salwar /churidhar khameez. Pageant dresses for the final round should be kept simple with clean lines and flowing. This could be an evening gown either couture or from a local dressmaker.