Help! What to wear to a university graduation

Elizabeth P

My god-daughter is graduating from university tomorrow... not quite sure how one of my friend managed to have a kid that old... :).

I'm going to the ceremony and then out to dinner with her and her parents (my friends).

What does one wear to this type of thing? The weather is going to be a whopping 14C, and cloudy. Heading down to 8C overnight, so could be quite cool when we head home. Too cool for a summer dress. Any advice?

11 years ago

Dressing

8 replies

Latest reply was from JAileen

Aquamarine

Veteran

One of my kids just graduated college and the events were all indoors. Most women wore dresses or dressy separates. I wore a sheath dress with a topper so I could remove/add a layer as we moved through various buildings for the diploma ceremonies, etc. Comfy heels for me, but a lot of women wore high heeled pumps or sandals.

This was an east coast private school.

11 years ago

carter

Veteran

My daughter just graduated from college in California. It was outdoors, cool and super windy. I wore a shift dress (with light coat and a sweater). I was one of the more dressed up folks there. We saw it all...shorts and tee, jeans, khakis, maxis, uber short skirts, etc. I would wear the same thing again (with a heavier coat). Classic, conservative dress should serve you well.

11 years ago

Echo

Veteran

It very much depends on the University, and probably even more on where you are going to dinner afterwards. I graduated from a very large, Big Ten University and many people were casual at graduation. It was a long event held in the stadium, so it wasn't necessarily conducive to dresses and heels. The graduations I have been to at smaller schools and private schools have been quite different, sometimes much dressier events.

Dressy separates should be fine if you aren't comfortable with a dress, but I would definitely recommend comfortable shoes, as sometimes there is standing and walking involved (depending on the place).

11 years ago

crst

Active Member

At my son's (private university) graduation last week - the attire was all over the board. Everything from very casual to fairly dressed up. Dresses of any kind or skirts/tops were the predominant clothing for adult women. Definitely take a jacket or sweater. It was inside and freezing due to the AC blasting.

11 years ago

Kristin L

Veteran

I think dressy separates or a business casual dress would be fine. I'd bring a topper as well.

11 years ago

Elizabeth P

Veteran

Thanks fir the quick feedback ladies. Much appreciated. Great to know that dress can be all over the place - I guess that's not really surprising in this day and age. I had pictured a dress, but the weather isn't making me want to go that route.

What about my silky track pants? With Okalas? And if only I had a nice drapey spring sweater... Sigh, another hole?

11 years ago

Echo

Veteran

Silky track pants with Okalas sounds like a perfect solution to both the weather and walking the fine line between casual and dressy. I think the Okalas can dress almost anything up enough to elevate the outfit, and I think you would be appropriately dressed for both the graduation and the dinner afterwards. A drapey sweater would go well, but so would a blazer.

11 years ago

JAileen

Veteran

At my son's graduation from a private college in Massachusetts, people wore everything from super dressy to super casual. I was in the middle, with a sundress with a cute sweater and sandals. If I were you I would dress for the weather otherwise you'll be miserable. Even that temp can be freezing if you have to sit for a long time.

11 years ago

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