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Original poster

To wear this to my graduation?

130 replies

levernopor · 06/11/2024 01:44

I'm nearly 25, my university graduation is coming up (midwifery).

I really like this dress, but three separate people (friends and family) have said the plunge and cut-out bits are too much for a graduation.

Is there much skin?

To wear this to my graduation?
OP posts:
sunshineandshowers40 · 06/11/2024 07:48

Lovely dress- where is it from?

I think you can wear what you like, so I would wear the dress.

VitaminSubtle · 06/11/2024 07:47

ZoeRuby · 06/11/2024 06:34

I attend multiple graduation events every year for work and see a whole range of outfits.

Thats a lovely dress - there’s no need to dress frumpy under your gown.

It is your achievement, what you wear has no bearing on that - be yourself!

No, no need to look ‘frumpy’, but that dress will look appalling under most academic gowns, and with nowhere to attach a hood for a garment designed to hook to a male shirt button, the OP is likely to look disorganised and not well put together in her graduation photos, if that’s something she thinks it’s important.

Personally I’m in favour of the Oxford sub fusc approach, and keeping fabulous dresses for the party afterwards, when they can be properly seen.

LadyPlasters · 06/11/2024 07:43

Go for it! Wear what you feel good in!
I wore a brightly coloured dress with butterflies on and bright red sparkly heeled shoes 🤷‍♀️.
As another pp said, it's the hat you need to worry about, take hair grips with you!

KeyKnowledge · 06/11/2024 07:39

Thats a lovely dress. I've been to a few graduations in the last couple of years and the only things that didn't work were jeans and T-shirt (looked try too hard, which wasn't the effect they expected I think) and a full length ball gown which she just kept tripping on. Colourful worked well if it didn't clash with the hood.

Guavafish1 · 06/11/2024 07:35

Nice go for it

XxSideshowAuntSallyx · 06/11/2024 07:31

I like. if you like it and feel comfortable in it I'd say wear it.

I wore a red and white polka dot wrap dress to mine(I even had a bit of cleavage 😮), had no issues with the gown slipping off (the mortar board was another thing, it didn't like thick curly hair), they had safety pins to hold the gown on to dresses. This was back in the days when most wore black business attire but I tried so many outfits on and hated all except the red dress.

ThatAgileLimeCat · 06/11/2024 07:27

My only concern is that you will be freezing if you want to take outside photos. It won't stand out as inappropriate at all nowadays (saw plenty of nightclub dresses on women and trainers on men this year) but practically it could be tricky with attaching the gown.

DieStrassensindimmernass · 06/11/2024 07:25

levernopor · 06/11/2024 01:44

I'm nearly 25, my university graduation is coming up (midwifery).

I really like this dress, but three separate people (friends and family) have said the plunge and cut-out bits are too much for a graduation.

Is there much skin?

I wouldn't.
Graduations are formal celebrations and that isn't formal.

SensibleSigma · 06/11/2024 07:23

Last one I went to women were dressed very vibrantly- nothing business like at all. I think one was in a blue taffeta number. It was hard to tell under the gown, but the dress code was glamorous rather than businesslike.

Tiker · 06/11/2024 07:19

It won’t be very comfortable. The gown will keep sliding off. It also looks very summery and you will be freezing.

SchoolDilemma17 · 06/11/2024 07:06

Don’t love it for a graduation tbh

Spirallingdownwards · 06/11/2024 07:04

Workingtosurvivenotthrive · 06/11/2024 01:53

Graduation attire is usually smart business dress, so I wouldn't wear this as it's not suitable. Id be more looking at shift or a-line dresses. It's a lovely dress but not for graduation.

30 years ago perhaps.

Nowadays we're what you want and feel comfortable in. But as other have said ot may be difficult to keep the gown and hood in place if you can't pin it.

Paulspots · 06/11/2024 06:57

Workingtosurvivenotthrive · 06/11/2024 01:53

Graduation attire is usually smart business dress, so I wouldn't wear this as it's not suitable. Id be more looking at shift or a-line dresses. It's a lovely dress but not for graduation.

In 2024? Not at the graduations I went to this year, there was a huge range of outfits, loads like the one the original poster suggests.

ZoeRuby · 06/11/2024 06:34

I attend multiple graduation events every year for work and see a whole range of outfits.

Thats a lovely dress - there’s no need to dress frumpy under your gown.

It is your achievement, what you wear has no bearing on that - be yourself!

JustinThyme · 06/11/2024 06:34

A number of women wore dresses like this at the graduation ceremony I attended this year. The gown subdued the outfits quite a bit but they still looked great.

Things aren’t as formal as they once were. If you love it, go for it.

mitogoshigg · 06/11/2024 06:29

Remember the hood pulls on your clothes. A button to attach it is useful alternatively a safety pin. Wear something you won't need to be adjusting basically

My dd wore something like this: https://www.hobbs.com/product/saige-dress/0223-5942-9322L00-STEEL-BLUE-10.html?utmsource=linkshare&utmmmedium=affiliate&utmcampaign=Lyst%20UK%2FEU&utmmcontent=15&utmterm=UKNetwork&ranMID=38595&ranSiteID=gcdLLATRVoE-8ZdjcoWLUBGO6Mv8ee8kjg&siteID=gcdLATRVoE-8ZdjcoWLUBGO6Mv8ee8kjg&PubName=Lyst%20UK%2FEU&SID=2523611

RonObvious · 06/11/2024 06:27

It’s your graduation. Wear what you want!

DisforDarkChocolate · 06/11/2024 06:26

You'll struggle to attach the gown. Lovely dress though and lots of people don't wear business casual anymore.

Zanatdy · 06/11/2024 06:24

I personally would agree with your friends

66babe · 06/11/2024 06:23

I was at a graduation recently and saw so many beautiful outfits
They ranged from demure business like to full on night club so I would say if you love it then go for it
The gown and gap will cover it while you are on stage and in your formal pics but for the rest of the celebration - it's beautiful
Congratulations 💐

verycloakanddaggers · 06/11/2024 06:11

That's not right for graduation. Listen to your friends.

Rollonsummerplease · 06/11/2024 06:08

Well it's making a statement that you don't see graduation as a serious educational achievement.
If that's what you want to do then wear your party dress.
Otherwise wear something more suitable for the occasion.

RechargeableGnu · 06/11/2024 02:30

I don't think that will look like you think it will under a graduation gown.

The neckline is too low, it'll look like you're not wearing a top. And the bottom half of the dress will billow out from under the gown.

It is a lovely dress, but not for that occasion.

Aria999 · 06/11/2024 02:21

Wear a cami under it if you're worried

wandawaves · 06/11/2024 02:02

I think it's fine for graduation.

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