To wear leggings to DD's University Graduation?

[OneToughMudderFudder]

Big row this morning as DD wants me to wear a bloody evening dress like she is .

I'd planned to wear my new knee high brown boots, camel knee length coat with a black polo neck and leggings underneath.

DH (who is wearing a suit) and DD are horrified. It's a daytime ceremony.

Who's BU?

Shearwater, that would be extremely out of place at a graduation ceremony. Not at all suitable, and I have been to several such ceremonies over the years. Nobody wore anything like that at any of them and would have looked severely underdressed and out of place if they had.

It's a smart, formal occasion so dress for it.

Leggings aren't appropriate

I wouldn’t say you need an ‘evening dress’ but an occasion dress certainly would be appropriate. Most mums at our graduations were wearing the kind of thing you see in Coast, Roman Originals, Jacques Vert etc.
Could you wear a dress like this with your boots and coat?
I wouldn’t go to work in a polo and leggings so I certainly wouldn’t turn up dressed to a formal event that way!

Yikes at that outfit for a graduation! Fine for a lunch out with friends or something.
Maybe I am 'frumpy' or 'staid' but I imagine OP is probably 40+, imo over the knee boots like that are for younger women.
For my DS's graduation in the summer I wore a black and white dress and light pink shrug, I did wonder if I should've worn a jacket like I did for older 2 DS's but it was so warm.

Not TheNanny23 one, sorry, that's fine!

Some people have some very funny, staid, frumpy and old-fashioned views about leggings.

Sorry @shearwater but that picture you've posted is hardly the height of style.

@shearwater, I’m assuming that’s a joke.

I have volunteered at graduations before. You will feel very out of place and underdressed

OooErMissus I brought up polo shirts, because a polo neck isn't "a thing" in the US, which is where I am. And which I specified in my post. I thought it was been clear, but perhaps not.

You call them turtlenecks

An evening dress is too much but leggings are definitely too little. Wear a smart outfit and make the DD proud after all the effort she has put in. The event is about her, not the 'parentals'.

shearwater such an outfit would not be “perfect “. Perhaps you’ve not been to a graduation.

Some people have some very funny, staid, frumpy and old-fashioned views about leggings.

It seems you (rightly) do too, @shearwater - since you've posted a picture of someone in black denim. Not leggings. It even says that in the image.

That outfit's fine. It's not what someone with a bit of a clue would wear to a graduation.

University lecturer here: neither leggings nor evening wear. A simple trouser top combination or a simple dress. It’s a formal occasion but it is not suited to white tie/ evening wear! It’s not a prom ball!!
Enjoy the day (there will be lots of standing and walking so sensible shoes are a must!)
P.S. taught at Oxbridge and now in Russel Group university

It’s a formal occasion you need to dress appropriately.
Leggings aren’t appropriate (mind you evening dress isn’t either).
Make an effort for your daughter!

@Teacher22 I disagree that it is all about the student. In all likelihood the parents have provided a significant amount of emotional, practical and financial support so I think they should get some say. My parents wanted to go to my graduation and I felt I owed them that, otherwise I wouldn't have bothered.
I didn't tell anyone there even was a graduation for my post grad qualification as I felt I has done my duty by then and there was no way on earth I was going again. But most undergraduates are reliant to some degree on their parents and I think some degree of compromise (pun intended) is reasonable.

You need to wear a smart dress. There will be photos.....Leggings are totally inappropriate.

I think you’ll look very out of place in an evening dress! Never seen an evening dress at a graduation yet!

I wore smart wide leg trousers, a longer length georgette sublty patterned blouse and draped longer length jacket. Smart but not ott, my OH wore a smart suit. Ds wore a suit but his gf wore jeans and a blouse. Everyone was smartly dressed parents and students (apart from gf) and all the photos are lovely (apart from those with gf ). And before anyone comments I did like the gf but was disappointed with her choice of outfit that day!

Unfortunately i haven't been to union so have never had a graduation, however I live in a university city so see plenty of graduation outfits. I would definitely say smart dress or suit, more like a shift or tea dress, as others have said as if you were attending a wedding

Bookishkitten agree about the footwear, my feet were in ribbons by end of day and I had broken the footwear in previously

I would dress as if going to a smart work meeting in the daytime.

Does the polo neck cover you bum and fanny area? They might be too polite to tell you but camel colour leggings with matching camel toe is not a sight for anyone, never mind your daughter and uni pals.

Could you swap the polo neck jumper for a longer tunic that looks more like a dress, then wear the leggings & long boots? Add some classy jewellery & a smart bag with your coat to bring your outfit together. I wore a tunic, leggings, long boots & smart coat for my dear dad's funeral & felt properly dressed.

Please wear something nice

It's a graduation ceremony and not the rodeo

Too casual. Swap the leggings for a smart pair of trousers and the boots for low heels/loafers/pointed flats.