If you’re here and looking for how to dress for graduation, first of all, congratulations are in order! Graduating, whether it’s from school or college, is such an exciting time as it marks you moving on from whatever stage of education you have been in. However, how special an occasion this is can also add lots of pressure, as you’ll be sure to want to look your best.
Luckily for you, in this guide, we’ll be giving you all the information that you need to know about how to dress for graduation, as well as giving you some styling tips.
How to Dress for Graduation: Abiding by Guidelines
The first thing to know about before you start thinking about your styling options is the specifications given by your specific school or college—there are a few things worse than getting your heart set on a dress only to find out that your school won’t allow you to wear it!
When you receive information on your graduation ceremony, it’s likely that you’ll be sent details about the dress code. Most likely, this will be semi-formal, which means that your outfit isn’t expected to be high-end or a ball gown, but casual clothes, such as jogging bottoms and trainers, should be avoided. However, you should check the specific guidelines given to you by your school or college rather than just depending on what is usually expected.
It’s also likely that you’ll have to wear a graduation cap and gown during the ceremony. For this reason, it’s important to consider which parts of your outfit will and won’t be shown—a dress where the most exciting part is an open back can be great for almost any other occasion, but if it will be covered by your graduation gown, other dresses might be a better choice.
Likewise, an outfit where the centerpiece is something at the top of your head, such as a nice headband, probably isn’t the best option for graduation if you’re having to wear a cap, as at best this will be covered, and at worst might make your head feel uncomfortable if your cap is on top of it.
What to Wear for Graduation: Dress or Suit?
Once you have the practicalities out of the way, you can start to think about the outfit itself! Your two main options here are to go for a dress or a suit.
If dresses aren’t what you would usually wear, there’s no reason that you should feel like you have to wear one for your graduation. There are lots of suits out there that are made to fit women well.
A suit also doesn’t have to be boring—rather than going for a classic black suit and tie, you can experiment with fun colors and patterns on your blazer and trousers. Jumpsuits can also be a great middle ground, as they can sometimes appear at first as though you’re wearing a long dress, but can still give you the comfort of trousers.
If you want to wear a dress, there are lots of options for you—floor length can give you an immediate formal presence, whereas shorter dresses can be a more fun option. If you’re looking for a graduation dress, we’re loving Sherri Hill’s graduation collection, as many of their dresses strike the perfect balance between fun and formal.
What Shoes to Wear to Graduation
Another thing you want to consider in your graduation styling choices is your shoes. In most graduation ceremonies, your shining moment is when you walk the stage—and there would be few things worse than falling during this!
For this reason, whilst a new pair of high heels might be your go-to option, we strongly recommend that you prioritize practicality here. If you already own a pair of heeled shoes that you feel comfortable in, or you have lots of experience in wearing heels already, then definitely go for it—just consider doing a test run in them first. There are lots of formal flats out there that can suit your needs if you’d prefer the safer option.
Final Thoughts on How to Dress for Graduation
Once again, we’d like to congratulate you on your upcoming graduation! Graduating can be both exciting and terrifying as it marks you entering a new stage of life. However, knowing what you’re going to wear, and wearing something that first and foremost makes you feel comfortable, can help you feel prepared to take one step closer towards whatever new adventures are coming up in your life.
