楽しそう~ does it mean "it looks like fun"?
If I want to say that something (a party that I didn't go to, but that my friend went to) can I say 楽しそう？
Does this mean "it looks like it was fun"? Yes, actually I think I need the past tense ~ looks like it WAS fun.

I ask because I have gotten confused with かわいそう　~ it doesn't mean "it looks cute"
(Although, would 可愛いそう　mean it looks cute?)

Anyway, can I say 楽しそう　or is there a better word?
What would be the past tense? 楽しそうだった？
Or does this imply that I was there, enjoying it? Because I wasn't.　I have only seen pictures. Thank you. :)I think I meant 楽しそうでした。　Is that past tense?

Question

楽しそう~ does it mean "it looks like fun"?
If I want to say that something (a party that I didn't go to, but that my friend went to) can I say 楽しそう？
Does this mean "it looks like it was fun"? Yes, actually I think I need the past tense ~ looks like it WAS fun.

I ask because I have gotten confused with  かわいそう　~ it doesn't mean "it looks cute"
(Although, would 可愛いそう　mean it looks cute?)

Anyway, can I say 楽しそう　or is there a better word?
What would be the past tense? 楽しそうだった？
Or does this imply that I was there, enjoying it? Because I wasn't.　I have only seen pictures. Thank you. :)I think I meant 楽しそうでした。　Is that past tense?

Answer

In the case you described, you can't use 楽しそうでした or 楽しそうだった。
You can say 楽しかったみたいだ、楽しかったでしょう、or even 楽しそうです。

楽しそうでした means it LOOKED like it was fun. The whole thing is in the past.

Answer

楽しそうだった,楽しそうでした(more polite)、they are past forms of 楽しそう。

「可愛い」does't go with 「～そう」
 When we use 「～そう」、it implies presumption. 
「友達は楽しそうでした。」you think(guess) that your friend had a fun but you are not sure if she really had a fun. 
On the other hand, you can tell by looking at them without a guess if she or he is cute or not.　
「赤ちゃんは可愛い」A baby is cute.-it is obvious

In Japanese, 「かわいそう（可哀相そう)」has a different meaning, it's "pitiful"
「赤ちゃんはかわいそうです。」means "a baby is pitiful"
It is very tricky, but I hope it might be help.

Answer

it looks like it was fun ＝　楽しかったでしょう